Man at Spokane Valley Walmart says it was a misunderstanding

A man seen in a widely shared video involving a father and his kids surrounded by a crowd near a Spokane Valley Walmart is now explaining what really happened from his perspective.

Lawton Miller said he had just exited the Walmart on Sprague Avenue Friday afternoon when he heard someone shouting nearby.

“She was yelling, ‘He’s stealing my car!’” Miller recalled. “So I walked over and opened the door. I told the man, ‘This lady claims you’re taking her vehicle.’”

However, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the woman was mistaken — the man hadn’t stolen her car.

The driver, Lee Allen, slammed the car door on Miller’s arm, panicking. Allen later told KHQ News that he wasn’t stealing anything and was frightened for both himself and his two kids who were inside the car.

“All I could think about was keeping my kids safe,” Allen said. “If things got worse, I was ready to speed off, but I didn’t want to hurt anyone either.”

Miller said he initially planned to step away and let Allen drive off — until the situation escalated.

“A kid jumped on the car hood. What was I supposed to do? If that boy fell and got run over, the driver could go to prison. I didn’t know if Allen even saw the kid,” Miller explained.

That’s when Miller said he got on his motorcycle and followed the car, honking his horn and flashing his lights, trying to get Allen to stop so the kid could get off the hood safely. He emphasized that scaring the family was never his intention.

“I’d never hurt a child. I have a daughter. I’m just a grandpa who rides a bike,” Miller said. “I’ve got pictures of me and my grandsons on that motorcycle.”

Since the video went viral, Miller said he’s received threats online. While he’s not concerned for his own safety, he’s deeply worried about his loved ones. He also wanted Allen and his family to know that he’s sorry about how things played out.

“I’ve had to stay away from my family. I’m scared someone might come after them because of this misunderstanding,” Miller said. “My daughter told me, ‘Dad, I love you, but I can’t deal with this right now.’”

Spokane County deputies said Miller likely won’t face any charges in connection with the incident.

In a separate Walmart parking lot incident, a woman’s car was stolen — with her dog still inside.

A woman in Washington D.C. was reunited with her dog after claiming her car was taken while her pet was in the back seat.

Police said they responded to a vehicle theft report on the 300 block of Riggs Road around 7 p.m. on August 20.

The woman said she had parked at a Walmart and left her car off, taking her keys with her. She returned about 20 minutes later to find the vehicle gone — with her mini bull terrier, Kodak, inside.

A witness told her that two people had jumped in and driven away quickly heading west on Riggs Road, NE.

“I was shopping at Walmart when my car was stolen. My dog was inside and now he’s missing,” she wrote in an email to FOX 5. “He’s been gone for days, and I just want him home.”

Thankfully, police confirmed on Wednesday that Kodak was found safe at a local shelter and the car had also been recovered. So far, no suspects have been arrested.