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Shoppers pepper-sprayed at Kinston Walmart

Police officers used pepper spray and arrested a man at Walmart store in Kinston when a fight broke out among customers late Thursday.

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KINSTON, N.C. — A disturbance involving Walmart shoppers at a store in Kinston Thursday night prompted off-duty police officers to arrest a former police officer and to use pepper spray to calm the crowd.

Shopper Angel Bunting said the incident began when a man waiting in line for discounted cellphones fell into a display

But authorities said customers became restless and a fight broke out among them as employees were setting up the electronics display.

Gordon Jackson, 58, a former Kinston police officer, was arrested. Police said he didn't follow instructions.

Jackson said there wasn't a fight and that people were jockeying for position in line. He said a police officer over-reacted by using pepper spray.

"He was raining it over the whole crowd, so it will rain down on their heads," Jackson told WNCT-TV. "Some of it got my granddaughter in her face and eyes, and she had to go the emergency room because she's asthmatic."

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