Legal Question in Criminal Law in Michigan

Re: Retail Fraud

Meijer's security does not have to follow the same constitutional rules that police do because there is no governmental action involved. So, for example, whereas a police officer might need a search warrant to seize and search your property, the store detectives do not ... and evidence seized by store security under these circumstances would likely NOT be ruled inadmissible in a criminal case, even if store security later gave the seized items to police. (This is similar to cases in schools, where school officials lawfully search lockers, backpacks, etc for drugs or other contraband in circumstances where police could not do so without a search warrant.)

The only exception that I am aware of would be if you could prove that the Meijer's employees acted as an "agent" of the goverment ... meaning that the government had the private security personnel take action that the police could not have lawfully done.

You should consult with a criminal defense attorney in your area regarding the facts of your case.