A former Olympic athlete’s life has been “a residing nightmare” since she says she by chance didn’t scan two gadgets at a self-checkout machine — resulting in her arrest and lack of her prestigious job as an NCAA Division 1 softball coach.
Meaggan Pettipiece, 48, was the pinnacle coach of the Valparaiso College Softball workforce when she was scanning her groceries at a Walmart self-checkout machine in Indiana on March 28, in line with the Nationwide Publish.
The machine reportedly didn’t scan the asparagus and ham Pettipiece meant to buy.
Walmart safety noticed that she didn’t scan the gadgets — price a complete of $67 — prompting them to name the police regardless of her having paid $176 for her different groceries.
Pettipiece, who stated she didn’t understand the machine didn’t learn the gadgets, was arrested.
Throughout her arrest, police discovered she had three disposable vapes and two unopened blister packs containing the anti-nausea remedy Zofran in her purse.
The previous softball participant — who performed outfield for the Canadian Nationwide workforce within the 2000 and 2004 Olympic video games — was charged with theft, possession of marijuana, and possession of a managed substance, the outlet reported.
Pettipiece resigned as head coach for the Valparaiso softball workforce on April 1 following a firestorm of headlines that swept by means of all through the Hoosier State after her arrest.
The Ontario native stated the vapes didn’t include nicotine or THC.
The anti-nausea drugs belonged to an assistant coach, who requested Pettipiece to carry them in her purse throughout a softball sport days earlier than she was arrested.
“We each forgot about them,” the previous All-American softball participant informed the outlet.
Earlier this month, Pettipiece’s legal professional submitted an utility for dismissal that included her account of the incident, proof of her assistant’s prescription, and character reference letters, in line with the outlet.
After studying the appliance, justice officers dropped the costs towards the previous athlete on Sept. 19.
Nonetheless, the injury brought on by the incident “modified the whole lot” for Pettipiece’s profession.
“It’s bittersweet,” she informed Nationwide Publish. “I’m comfortable, clearly, the costs have been dismissed. The unhappy half is the injury it did to my profession. It has modified the whole lot in my life.”
Pettipiece stated her resignation as head coach of the Division 1 softball program 5 months in the past has been “a residing nightmare.”
“I misplaced my profession, I misplaced my job, the life I used to be constructing and it’s been actually troublesome,” Pettipiece stated.
Alongside together with her profession derailment, the California College of Pennsylvania alumni expressed that the injury to her status has been equally heartbreaking.
“The softball neighborhood is a tightknit group and it (the information) went by means of like wildfire,” Pettipiece informed the outlet.
“You actually do be taught who the individuals are that basically consider in you and belief you and are really a good friend for you,” Pettipiece stated.
Pettipiece is now residing in Ohio together with her household.
“I’m comfortable my household’s all again collectively. We sacrificed as a household for me to be there teaching and persevering with my teaching profession,” she stated.
Although the costs towards her have now been dismissed, she nonetheless fears the injury “can’t be reversed.”
“The robust factor is, how do you get out to individuals that you’re harmless? And this injury was executed for one thing so ridiculous,” Pettipiece informed the outlet.
“I’m unsure of the longer term. For now, I’m going to remain at residence and concentrate on my youngsters. I’d like to determine which course I’m going to go in.”
