CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Charlotte family wants an apology from a Shell gas station after a clerk allegedly refused to let an elderly woman use the employee restroom.

  • Last week, 89-year-old Evelyn Redic was coming home from church when a friend's van blew a tire
  • Mecklenburg County code enforcement shows Shell employees didn't violate any codes by denying Redic access to a bathroom that's just for employees
  • Starting next year, public bathrooms are mandated at gas stations

Last week, 89-year-old Evelyn Redic was coming home from church when a friend's van blew a tire. They stopped at a Shell gas station on Clanton Road and that's when Redic had to use restroom. But she wasn't allowed.

“And for us as seniors we have to use the restroom as soon as possible, so they still refused her right to use it and she had to use it in the bushes,” said Commissioner Vilma Leake.

Mecklenburg County code enforcement shows Shell employees didn't violate any codes by denying Redic access to a bathroom that's just for employees.

But Commissioner Vilma Leake believes they violated the code of good conscience.

“I cannot forgive them for not allowing her to even using the employee's restroom what damage could she do,” said Leake.

A spokesperson from Shell said the company doesn't condone this alleged behavior and they're investigating the issue.

Starting next year, public bathrooms are mandated at gas stations. But older facilities such as the gas station on Clanton Road are not required to add them according to state code.

Redic's family will hold a community meeting to talk about their next steps at St. Marks United Methodist Church located at 917 Clanton Road. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. this Sunday, July 8.

 

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