A Wal-Mart manager was fired after calling the law on a black businessman suspected of trying to pass a bad check, store representative said Tuesday.

Manager Mark Cornett called sheriff's deputies after Reginald Pitts, 34, tried to pay for holiday gift cards for his company's employees with a $13,000 check.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Clark said his actions violated company procedures. She said that Cornett attempted to verify Pitts' check, but there was a privacy block on his company's account. However, she said Cornett should have returned the check rather than calling authorities.

Pitts is a human resources manager for GAF Materials Corp. He said he was treated that way because he is black.

Clark denies any racial profiling by Cornett.

Cornett was fired because of "poor judgment and poor customer service," she said.

Wal-Mart apologized to Pitts for the Nov. 23 incident. GAF decided to buy its employees gift cards from Target instead.