General Discussion

VanGoghRocks

(621 posts)

96. I guess my rejoinder to that is that it can't be elevated "beyond a simple theft or

Sat Aug 16, 2014, 01:33 PM

Aug 2014

larceny" when it hasn't even been fully established that there was any theft to begin with. The store owner\manager may have told police that there was a theft and they may have taken down and subsequently broadcast a report that says as much. But that does not necessarily mean that a theft actually occurred.

Is it possible that Brown paid for, or attempted to pay for, the merchandise (no theft) but that the physical altercation was actually about something else entirely? Why haven't we heard from the store owner or manager who appears in the video?

I apologize if some of these questions have already been answered. Trying to keep up with this story and its shifting sands is proving very challenging.

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Did Michael Brown commit robbery or petty theft? [View all] Little Star Aug 2014 OP

He assaulted the clerk while stealing items. Not good. But still..... Logical Aug 2014 #1

Doesn't answer my question. Little Star Aug 2014 #6

According to MO. law, IronGate Aug 2014 #68

I couldn't see what happened at the counter. Looked to me as though he and his friend sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #93

Has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with his execution randys1 Aug 2014 #2

I am in agreement with you but my point is.... Little Star Aug 2014 #7

Oh, i see your point...he may have done nothing but it wasnt robbery, you are right randys1 Aug 2014 #13

Because Missouri law pintobean Aug 2014 #21

That's f'd up, imho..... Little Star Aug 2014 #23

I guess. pintobean Aug 2014 #28

no the amount still matters dsc Aug 2014 #31

No, it was the use of force on the clerk that makes it robbery. nt. IronGate Aug 2014 #71

In terms of the nature of the wrong - yes. Ms. Toad Aug 2014 #75

Yes, I've seen that treestar Aug 2014 #26

More than slightly extreme imho. Little Star Aug 2014 #29

Thanks for info 840high Aug 2014 #67

It will be used against him... Arrowood Aug 2014 #42

Are you supposed to be executed for those crimes? Agschmid Aug 2014 #3

agree but you are missing my point. Little Star Aug 2014 #14

So far he has not been proven guilty of anything Bjorn Against Aug 2014 #4

Me too. Little Star Aug 2014 #11

He will never be proven guilty of anything. He's dead. You can't try a corpse. MADem Aug 2014 #81

neither has the officer that shot him TorchTheWitch Aug 2014 #86

Not many want to make that connection. pintobean Aug 2014 #90

A quick word about "how states define crimes" jberryhill Aug 2014 #5

So there is no difference between petty theft & robbery? Little Star Aug 2014 #9

OMG.... here's petit theft in Florida... robbery in just a sec.... jberryhill Aug 2014 #20

There are a couple of flavors of robbery in Florida jberryhill Aug 2014 #24

I think you meant to reference Missouri law, not Florida. onenote Aug 2014 #70

Lol jberryhill Aug 2014 #83

Robbery but it could have been argued in court exboyfil Aug 2014 #8

No such thing as petty theft? Little Star Aug 2014 #10

Where no force is involved in the stealing, the amount matters. onenote Aug 2014 #72

Petty theft is a form of larceny - robbery is a theft with the addition of force or threat of force aint_no_life_nowhere Aug 2014 #12

So how would you classify taking a pkg of cigarillos? Little Star Aug 2014 #16

I would define it as robbery when there is also assult involved. Travis_0004 Aug 2014 #33

I don't know enough details from a silent video of a few seconds that doesn't capture aint_no_life_nowhere Aug 2014 #34

Exactly. I couldn't tell WTF was going on in the first 3/4 of that video arcane1 Aug 2014 #58

You make some interesting points about us not seeing an actual theft. n/t Chemisse Aug 2014 #63

You're not referencing Missouri law. onenote Aug 2014 #74

I was thinking "fucked up state".... jberryhill Aug 2014 #84

They can't make anything stick even if the video showed Brown, clearly, hitting the clerk with a MADem Aug 2014 #82

Petty theft does not involve person to person interaction AgingAmerican Aug 2014 #80

Did Darren Wilson commit first or second degree murder? me b zola Aug 2014 #15

Man was surrendering? Then I say first. Little Star Aug 2014 #18

First nt ohnoyoudidnt Aug 2014 #25

But how much of a premeditation is required for first? Chemisse Aug 2014 #64

Neither. HooptieWagon Aug 2014 #17

Well I think the word robbery is over the top. Little Star Aug 2014 #19

Well, if the person in the video did steal the cigars... HooptieWagon Aug 2014 #39

Petty theft. ohnoyoudidnt Aug 2014 #22

. Little Star Aug 2014 #37

That's not how crimes work. OrwellwasRight Aug 2014 #76

I guess my rejoinder to that is that it can't be elevated "beyond a simple theft or VanGoghRocks Aug 2014 #96

That's not what's being discussed. OrwellwasRight Aug 2014 #99

Under Missouri law, once you shove the person you are stealing from Ms. Toad Aug 2014 #77

Any degree of force to complete the crime is strong-arm robbery. B Calm Aug 2014 #85

It doesn't even have to be actual force - Ms. Toad Aug 2014 #94

I think it is an irrelevant issue to distract from at least the 2nd degree murder of a kid TheKentuckian Aug 2014 #27

I am not trying to distract.... Little Star Aug 2014 #36

I understand that but the line of conversation, is a reprieve from the core issue TheKentuckian Aug 2014 #43

You are right but... Little Star Aug 2014 #53

Use of force in the commission of theft elevates it to robbery. Spider Jerusalem Aug 2014 #30

I'm not sure it matters Texasgal Aug 2014 #32

Exactly. It just pisses me off that they are getting away with it. Little Star Aug 2014 #38

I'm not convinced that there is a valid legal discussion to be had yet loyalsister Aug 2014 #35

Yep. Shame on the media (our wonderful wordsmiths) Little Star Aug 2014 #40

How do you file charges JustAnotherGen Aug 2014 #46

There were none filed while he was alive loyalsister Aug 2014 #51

and now he is dead JustAnotherGen Aug 2014 #87

Petty theft Bettie Aug 2014 #41

I understand why you are asking JustAnotherGen Aug 2014 #44

Sadly yes JAG, walking while black. sheshe2 Aug 2014 #54

I think it might matter to his parents and family. They don't want to see his character defiled.... Little Star Aug 2014 #56

its already been done JustAnotherGen Aug 2014 #88

This message was self-deleted by its author Courtesy Flush Aug 2014 #45

Nothing, since he was not convicted of any crime. WinkyDink Aug 2014 #47

Dunno. What did the jury decide in his trial after his indictment and courtroom prosecution? kestrel91316 Aug 2014 #48

^ This. nt IdaBriggs Aug 2014 #78

It really doesn't matter. The media is trying to make it seem as if it does. Avalux Aug 2014 #49

I think it does matter when it comes to public opinion..... Little Star Aug 2014 #55

IF and tha tis a big IF. If he did steal the cigars it is shoplifting rustydog Aug 2014 #50

"Strong-arm robbery" cracks me up! elias49 Aug 2014 #73

. Little Star Aug 2014 #92

Is only the police officer considered innocent until proven guilty? gollygee Aug 2014 #52

Why hasn't the store reported a robbery to this day? geomon666 Aug 2014 #57

The store did report a robery Travis_0004 Aug 2014 #65

I don't think that question can be answered at this point, Nye Bevan Aug 2014 #59

Apart from the general irrelevance, the real question is whether he would be convicted of a class 2 alcibiades_mystery Aug 2014 #60

Are we now sure that the man in the photo is Michael? jwirr Aug 2014 #61

Johnson, through his attorney, admitted it. n/t Ms. Toad Aug 2014 #79

I think it was theft, followed by an assault. Chemisse Aug 2014 #62

He pushed the clerk - which made 840high Aug 2014 #69

Without knowing what exactly went on at that convenience store counter... countryjake Aug 2014 #66

Agreed JustAnotherGen Aug 2014 #89

So it has been definitely established that it IS Brown in the video. rocktivity Aug 2014 #91

Let's face it, his main crime was Walking While Black. MoonRiver Aug 2014 #95

Bingo. Little Star Aug 2014 #97

He committed the crime of being a black pedestrian. Oh and being a big guy. riseabove Aug 2014 #98