Central resident catches burglar in the act and holds for authorities

[oleheat]

Homeowner spots crook snooping around his vehicle- and decides to act. Would the guy have been caught, if he had remained in place and called 911? Perhaps. But he made the decision and it worked out well- thank goodness.

http://www.wbrz.com/videos/man-told-accused-burglar-not-to-make-it-worse-/

 

[LACamper]

No response from the SO?

 

[dantheman]

Sheriffs Office was called . It took them about 10 minutes to get there . It appears that they were called after the guy was detained . That was my take on the story from the news broadcast .

 

[LACamper]

No, I meant did the SO treat this guy as a hero on the news or an idiot for acting on his own?

 

[Emperor]

I am conflicted by all of this?!? WBRZ reports it as if the guy (Ma), did a noble thing. Would they have been so humbled by Ma's actions if the thief attempted to grab Ma's gun and was shot to death? And this homeowner did the exact same thing that the guy in New Orleans did (less the warning shot across the forehead (that found it's target)).

So one is a hero for holding a car burglar at bay with a gun, and one is a possible murderer for shooting a car burglar? My point is, if Ma ended up shooting the scumbag in Central, wouldn't he be in the same situation? After all, he pursued the guy beyond his yard?!?

 

[oleheat]

A couple of things come to mind....


1. If the resident wouldn't have acted, there is little chance the thief would've been caught. We are free to argue over whether or not what he did was worth it- but that's the truth.

2. If things would have gone the way things did in NOLA....I can't speak for the media or the legal ramifications- but you wouldn't see any community outrage. That's a sure bet.

 

[mcinfantry]

I am conflicted by all of this?!? WBRZ reports it as if the guy (Ma), did a noble thing. Would they have been so humbled by Ma's actions if the thief attempted to grab Ma's gun and was shot to death? And this homeowner did the exact same thing that the guy in New Orleans did with the exception of not calling the police and shooting him while he was unarmed and apparently not posing an immediate threat.

So one is a hero for holding a car burglar at bay with a gun, and one is a possible murderer for shooting an UNARMED car burglar? My point is, if Ma ended up shooting the scumbag in Central, wouldn't he be in the same situation? After all, he pursued the guy beyond his yard?!?

yes, i think once i fixed it, its pretty accurate.

State Law allows citizen arrest for felonies, which is what happened.

 

[Emperor]

I would like to see some input from legal scholars and prosecutorial interests on this too. But, no more discussion in the media. If there were still journalist in America, they would (on the heels of the NOLA shooting), ask the likes of Sid Gautreau & DA Moore the what ifs of this?

 

[Emperor]

yes, i think once i fixed it, its pretty accurate.

State Law allows citizen arrest for felonies, which is what happened.

That's great, but you are not addressing my concern. Ma, pursued the alleged thief (and the video shows no actual act of thievery), down the street with his gun and off his property. If the trespasser (that's all he was at the time), would have pulled a Trayvon on Ma; would there still be no big deal here?

 

[madwabbit]

in my own opinion it is best summed up with:

If you aren't willing to shoot, don't draw.
If you aren't in fear for life or great bodily harm, you don't shoot.
and finally...

Just because the law states that you CAN shoot, doesn't always mean that you SHOULD.

 

[mcinfantry]

in my own opinion it is best summed up with:

If you aren't willing to shoot, don't draw.
If you aren't in fear for life or great bodily harm, you don't shoot.
and finally...

Just because the law states that you CAN shoot, doesn't always mean that you SHOULD.

i agree.

emperor read the definition of citizen arrest, requirements, then the definition of arrest. the answers are there.

 

[Emperor]

i agree.

emperor read the definition of citizen arrest, requirements, then the definition of arrest. the answers are there.

Whoa! Where in the Statute does it explain when might be a good time (legally acceptable), for Ma to shoot the perp? That's the gray area for me. I get, that we CAN arrest as citizens; and everyone seems to love a good "local" hero story until a dreaded and misunderstood gun goes bang and someone is dead.

He chased the guy down the street?!?

 

[JR1572]

Whoa! Where in the Statute does it explain when might be a good time (legally acceptable), for Ma to shoot the perp? That's the gray area for me. I get, that we CAN arrest as citizens; and everyone seems to love a good "local" hero story until a dreaded and misunderstood gun goes bang and someone is dead.

He chased the guy down the street?!?

Like I said in another thread 12 hours ago, everyone loves a hero.

JR1572

 

[oleheat]

I'd wager the local boys who worked the call appreciate what he did, either way.


I'm glad everything turned out the way it did.

 

[VeedUp]

Was it a black kid he chased off his property?

 

[oleheat]

Was it a black kid he chased off his property?

Nope.

 

[VeedUp]

that's why it's not in the national media, well hopefully that kid learned just how close he came to getting shot.

 

[Emperor]

that's why it's not in the national media, well hopefully that kid learned just how close he came to getting shot.

Guarantee you he is back at it after he gets his obligatory slap on the wrist.

 

[Jack]

If the theif would've put up a fight and started stomping the guy's ass, home owner shoots him, would the homeowner have been charged with any crimes?

 

[oleheat]

Guarantee you he is back at it after he gets his obligatory slap on the wrist.

Judging by the counts he has against him- gonna be a mighty big slap.


Hopefully.