Olympian's life "a living nightmare" after simple self-check out mistake
<p>A former Olympian has spoken about how her life was ruined after she accidentally failed to scan to items at a self-checkout machine in Walmart. </p>
<p>Canadian athlete Meaggan Pettipiece, 48, was arrested on March 28 in Indiana for theft, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance.</p>
<p>The charges have since been dropped, but Pettipiece lost her prestigious job as the head coach of the Valparaiso University softball team as a result and says her career and reputation have been ruined. </p>
<p>The ordeal began when the self-checkout machine at Walmart reportedly failed to scan the asparagus and ham that Pettipiece intended to purchase. </p>
<p>Walmart security saw that she failed to scan the items — worth a total of $67 — prompting them to call the police despite her having paid $167 for her other groceries.</p>
<p>Pettipiece was arrested and when police searched her they found three disposable vapes in her purse, along with two unopened blister packs containing anti-nausea medication Zofran.</p>
<p>The former athlete said the vapes did not contain any nicotine or THC, and the anti-nausea pills belonged to an assistant coach who had asked her to keep them in her purse during a softball game, days before her arrest. </p>
<p>“We both forgot about them,” Pettipiece told the<em> National Post.</em></p>
<p>The outlet reported that earlier this month, her lawyer submitted an application for dismissal that included her account of the incident, proof of her assistant’s prescription, and character reference letters.</p>
<p>After reading the application, her charges were dropped by justice officials on September 19, but the damage caused by the incident "changed everything". </p>
<p>“It is bittersweet,” she told <em>National Post</em>.</p>
<p>“I’m happy, obviously, the charges were dismissed. The sad part is the damage it did to my career. It has changed everything in my life.”</p>
<p>Pettipiece resigned as head coach of the softball team shortly after the Walmart incident. </p>
<p>"It's been five months, a living nightmare. I lost my career, I lost my job, the life I was building and it's been really difficult."</p>
<p>Along with the damage to her career, Pettipiece said the effect on her reputation has been equally heartbreaking. </p>
<p>“The softball community is a tight-knit group and it (the news) went through like wildfire,” she said. </p>
<p>“You really do learn who the people are that really believe in you and trust you and are truly a friend for you." </p>
<p>The former athlete is now living in Ohio with her family, and though the charges against her have been dismissed she is worried the damage "can't be reversed". </p>
<p>“The tough thing is, how do you get out to people that you are innocent? And this damage was done for something so ridiculous,” Pettipiece told the outlet.</p>
<p>“I’m not sure of the future. For now, I’m going to stay at home and focus on my kids. I’d like to figure out which direction I’m going to go in.”</p>
<p><em>Image: Valparaiso University Athletics/ </em><em>ZikG / Shutterstock.com</em></p>
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