A South Carolina woman filed a lawsuit against Walmart after allegedly catching one of the retail giant’s delivery drivers engaged in a lewd act on her property. According to legal documents reported by WMBF News, The shopper claims she found Alvin B. Ortiz “with his pants down masturbating” in her vehicle after delivering groceries to her porch in Horry County.
The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, claimed she was tracking her delivery digitally when she saw Ortiz bring the groceries to her door via the doorbell camera. However, around 9 a.m., when he went to retrieve the items, he noticed Ortiz remaining parked in the driveway.
Approximately 10 to 15 minutes later, she approached his vehicle to check it out and made the alleged disturbing discovery. He immediately retreated to his house, secured his children and hid in a bedroom. Later, a neighbor whom he asked to investigate also allegedly saw Ortiz continue the obscene act.
Ortiz was arrested the next day by the Horry County Police Department and charged with indecent exposure. He was released the next day on $2,500 bail, according to WMBF News.
The lawsuit accuses Walmart of failing to conduct proper background checks on Ortiz, who worked through Sparks Delivery, a third-party service used by Walmart. The woman’s legal filing claims that Walmart should take responsibility for the actions of its delivery staff in the performance of their duties.
The lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff “suffered injuries, including emotional distress, distress, and hardship” due to the incident. The documents further state: “But for defendants’ willful, wanton, reckless and willful indifference and negligence, plaintiff would not have been harmed.”
Walmart issued a brief statement in response to the lawsuit, saying: “The safety of our customers is always a top priority. “We are reviewing the complaint and will respond appropriately to the Court.”
The case has drawn attention to the responsibilities of companies that use third-party services and the measures they take to ensure customer safety. As the legal process unfolds, the woman seeks to hold Walmart accountable for what she describes as an act of avoidable negligence that has caused significant emotional trauma.