Don Watson thought he was just doing his job when he chased and confronted a shoplifter stealing buggies overflowing with merchandise from the Prattville Wal-Mart a month ago.

One night while working his regular shift, Watson, who served as the night manager, heard an alarm signaling an emergency door was open and he ran to see what was happening. He spotted a man, who he called a habitual shoplifter, with a buggy outside of the store.

"When I caught up to the individual he turned and grabbed me, struck me in the face and dragged me to the ground," Watson said. "I got loose and was holding him down" when security personnel from an apartment complex across the street came to help until police arrived.

Instead of being rewarded for recovering the stolen goods, Watson said he was fired 27 days later.

"It was just kind of strange," he said, of his firing. "It was strange that they came to this conclusion after 27 days. I thought I was protecting the company."

Watson was terminated on the grounds of "gross misconduct" for not looking out for his own welfare and not complying with Wal-Mart's security measures.

Despite being hit in the face, Watson claims he wasn't injured in the altercation. He suffered a scratch to the neck and torn pants.

When asked about Watson's firing, Wal-Mart spokesman Aaron Mullins said the company doesn't comment on human resource matters.

"It is a tough situation anytime we have an associate that does something that unfortunately puts himself in danger," he said. "We don't think there is any amount of stolen merchandise that is worth anyone's life. Associates are trained to follow certain security measures."

Watson said he was trained not to pursue a shoplifter more than 10 feet outside the store, but it's a rule he has broken before and that many managers break.

"I am expected to keep the shoplifting at a minimum," he said, adding that the amount of shoplifting is reflected in associate pay. If shoplifting is up, then associates don't get bonuses.

Watson said loss prevention officers set their own schedules, and he couldn't convince one to work the overnight shift.

The suspected shoplifter Watson apprehended on Jan. 4 was attempting to steal $1,118 in merchandise from the store, court records show.

Roderick Gray was charged with first-degree robbery in the incident.

Watson said the shoplifter had taken merchandise totaling $3,500 over the previous nine days. The man was captured on store surveillance cameras on numerous occasions wearing the same clothes.

Watson claims the man is also suspected of shoplifting from the Wal-Mart in Millbrook on the same nights.

Now, Watson is looking for answers and a new job.

He said being terminated for gross misconduct means he can't be rehired at another Wal-Mart or Sam's Club. He also expects it will hinder his ability to get any other job.

Watson is attempting to contact personnel at Wal-Mart's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. to get answers about his termination and to see if there is a way for him to appeal the decision.

When asked if he would take his old job back, Watson said "I would have to. I went from making a decent living, making almost $50,000 a year, to nothing."

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Updated at 4:50 p.m. with poll information.