Grand Teton Mall security guard on leave after confrontation with shoppers goes viral
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A local security guard is on leave following a verbal altercation with a woman that was caught on camera and has quickly gone viral online.
The incident took place at the Grand Teton Mall, where a woman and her girlfriend claim they were confronted by security for taking "lighthearted and funny photos."
The confrontation gained widespread attention after shopper Alyssa Bratcher posted a video of the incident to TikTok, referring to the security officer involved as "Hansen."
In the footage, "Hansen" can be heard shouting at the women, and at the end of the clip, he appears to attempt to force his way past and grab Bratcher's phone.
The video was posted with the caption, in part, "...My girlfriend and I decided to take some lighthearted and funny photos, but apparently, this man didn't seem to like it. He told us we were going to get 'banned' when we were simply minding our own business and proceeded to curse and yell at us just for asking why we couldn't take pictures at the mall."
Bratcher questioned the guard's motives, adding, "I’m not sure if it was an act of homophobia or simply just rage for no good reason." According to Bratcher, additional security personnel eventually arrived and stated the officer was in the wrong.
The video has struck a chord online, with the TikTok video currently generating 544.5K views.
Security Experts Weigh In
Grand Teton Mall's security is run by Professional Security Consultants. Local News 8 reached out to Bratcher and Professional Security Consultants for comment, but has not received a response.
However, the behavior displayed in the video has drawn criticism from local security professionals. Cesilio Silveira, of Gem State Security in Idaho Falls, reviewed the footage with Local News 8 and noted it was not handled professionally.
"The biggest thing is when you watch it, you could tell it was handled, not professionally," Silveira said.
However, Silveira also cautioned the public against rushing to final judgments based solely on a short internet clip, noting that the viral video only captures a snippet of the total interaction. According to industry research, social media algorithms systematically push high-emotion, conflict-driven content to the top of users' feeds—a phenomenon often referred to as the "algorithm of outrage."
"The biggest issue is we've only seen one side of the video, and they're taking the correct steps on that with the investigation, reviewing the entire incident, because there's always more to this story," Silveira added. "I hope the appropriate steps are taken by the company, the mall, and law enforcement if they need to see fit with that option."
Official Response and Next Steps
The Grand Teton Mall is privately owned by retail real estate company GGP. In a statement to Local News 8, Claudia Ilagan, Public Relations Manager for GGP, confirmed immediate action was taken.
"We are aware of the incident involving a third-party security officer and a shopper at Grand Teton Mall and are taking the matter very seriously. The officer was removed from duty and a review of the incident is now underway by the security company. Regardless, his behavior does not reflect the standards we expect of those entrusted with maintaining a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for our guests. We appreciate the patience and support of our shoppers, tenants, and community as we complete this process." - Claudia Ilagan
The Idaho Falls Police Department confirmed to Local News 8 that, as of publication, the Bratcher has not filed an official police report.
Local News 8 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
