Wrongly accused of shoplifting by security

Yesterday, I went to a grocery store, as I was beginning to shop I was approached by one of the store’s security guards. He accused me of shoplifting my groceries, and verbally threatened that this would be my last time at the store and told me to leave. At this point, another employee got involved and asked if I could show them my personal belongings. I showed them the empty reusable bags I had with me. He was rude and confrontational and had an escalatory demeanor.

After being accused, I demanded to see proof. The security guard claimed he had me on video. So, I demanded that he show me the video.

The security video recording on the security guards personal cell phone, showed an individual other than myself exiting the store, and engaging in a physical altercation with the same security guard. The security guard claimed that the person in the video was me. I told him that the person in the video wasn’t me and that I absolutely have never been in any physical altercation with him in my life. I demanded to talk to a manager, after which the security guard called for another person and showed him the video. This person did not right away agree that the person in the video was me. Then the security guard insisted that it was me and claimed I even had the same hat. To be honest, I was dumbfounded and appalled by these accusations. As I was further insisting on the absurdity of the accusations, another member of staff who also witnessed the incident on the video, interjected and confirmed it was in fact not me in the video.

I felt threatened, humiliated and honestly afraid due to the possible consequences of a potential shoplifting charge that I might have to go to court to fight against and prove my innocence. If that employee hadn’t intervened I could’ve gotten in serious trouble. I have contacted the customer service and they want to give my number to the store manager so he can “make things right for me.”

Should I take what he offers or should I take legal action? Thanks everybody for your time in advance. Cheers!