48 people lost their job for a rape that did not happen?

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The owner of the security company that hired an accused rapist is speaking out about having to lay off most of his staff. Kroger was Security Point Protective Services largest client, but they fired them after guard Geryl Hill was charged with raping a customer.

Both Kroger and Security Point Protections Services are devastated for the young victim and her family. Also, both regret that a successful seven year partnership has resulted in nearly 50 people losing their jobs.

The alleged actions of 31 year old Geryl Hill has impacted a family, shoppers, and now destroyed the company he worked for, Security Point Protection Services, owned by Huston Atkins.

Police say Hill raped a 25 year old woman after he caught her allegedly shoplifting a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste in the Kroger at the corner of Poplar and Highland.

Hill was an unarmed security guard for Security Point, a company that employed 48 people. Kroger was the the company's only client.

"I had to layoff all my employees," said Atkins. "We were ordered by the Kroger company to vacate the premises."

Kroger announced it was terminating the security contract with Protections Services on Wednesday.

Kroger Spokesperson Joe Bell says the company will use an interim company while it looks for a permanent replacement.

"Our concern first and foremost is our customers. What we didn't want is someone feeling unsafe in a store if they saw a certain security guard or know they worked for a certain company."

Bell says Kroger will review ways to increase security checks on security guards, but Atkins says the state's security licensing system needs to be re-evaluated. He says the state was in the process of revoking Hill's license.

"If a license is being investigated or potentially attempted to be revoked, then that company should be notified of that," said Atkins. "In this case, there was no notification."

In an economy that forces a woman to shoplift a toothbrush, Atkins is now devastated to put his entire workforce out of a job.

"The families of the 48 employees lost their job with four hours notice."

I think their are parts of this story that are being left out, first the woman said that she was stopped in the store, but did agree to have sex with the man if he let her go home. Then when she went home she then called the police. Where is the rape??? Was it going to be a conspiracy to commit a rape? This really does sound quite flaky, lets just wait and see what really happened, because I believe their is more to this story than what is being told!!!

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