Florida principal arrested for trying to scam Walmart self-scanner, blames it on peer pressure

A Florida school principal admitted to doing “something dumb” after he got nabbed for allegedly “skip scanning” at a Walmart self-checkout.

(Video Credit: WFLA)

On March 29 in Winter Haven, Florida, Bok Academy North Principal Gregory Lewis seemingly turned talk into action at a Polk County Walmart. It was there that an effort to make off with nearly $40 worth of merchandise resulted in him being led away in handcuffs and getting placed on leave at work.

According to Lewis’ arrest affidavit, the principal admitted to “skip scanning” at the self-checkout register after a loss prevention employee at the store spotted him placing disposable plates between more expensive items, prompting a call to the local police department.

“We sit around talking, ‘Hey, I did this.’ Let me try to see what I can get away with,” the principal was heard saying to the police on the body cam footage. “I did something dumb today and I understand it.”

Attempting to make off with a pack of light bulbs, bacon, and frozen butterfly shrimp, an array of goods totaling $37.45 in value, Lewis was instead booked into the Polk County Jail with a charge of petit theft.

Meanwhile, he was placed on administrative leave by his school’s interim superintendent, Alricky Smith, who detailed in a letter to trustees, “At this time, I am unable to provide any comments on the next steps, as this matter is ongoing.”

Speaking with WFLA, retired Polk County teacher James Barker decried the message that Lewis’ actions sent to students as he expressed, “Unfortunately, it’s turning our profession into a sad situation.”

“More and more people are doing stupid things without any regard to the consequences, not only for themselves but for the reputation of our profession,” he went on. “He’s the principal of the school, and now he’s been caught doing this, so what example does he set for the kids?”

The principal’s arrest came just days after Business Insider ran a report detailing how leftists were increasingly turning to shoplifting, justifying their actions as a way to stick it to corporations and billionaires. In particular, Whole Foods has become a target of five-fingered animus as Jeff Bezos, the executive chairman of the supermarket’s parent company Amazon, signaled his willingness to work with President Donald Trump’s administration and contributed $1 million toward the GOP leader’s inauguration fund.

Liberals admit shoplifting from Whole Foods as a twisted way to stick it to Bezos for not hating Trump https://t.co/TQlDXCDlba

— BPR (@BIZPACReview) April 2, 2025

Meanwhile, in Washington state, lawmakers have introduced a bill to regulate self-service checkout stations that would require a full-service checkout lane to be open if self-service was available, one attendant for every two self-service stations open, and a limit of 15 items at those stations.

Fines for failed compliance began at $100 per day and could amount to a total of $10,000 in penalties as companies are made to blame for soft-on-crime policies that have encouraged the increased prevalence of shoplifting.

“Anybody’s capable of this,” loss prevention expert John Hassard told WFLA.

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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