Posted on 04/14/2002 11:27:27 AM PDT by eeman
SNOHOMISH — Police yesterday questioned the actions of an armed citizen who opened fire on suspects in a robbery of a neighborhood jewelry store. They said prosecutors will consider charges against him. Neighbors and the owner of the store praised the man as a hero and good Samaritan.
One of the suspects was wounded when the man, identified by witnesses as Brian Wyatt Haynes, 51, the owner of a nearby antiques and watch-repair store, shot out the tire of the getaway car and then fired at least one round through the rear window of the fleeing vehicle.
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"This is not the time to be a hero," Snohomish Police Chief Rob Sofie said yesterday. "The Police Department emphasizes that the protection of someone's personal safety is always, always more important than the protection of property.
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Sofie said police were still investigating and that prosecutors ultimately would decide whether the shooter should be charged. Possible charges could range from felony assault to unlawful discharge of a firearm, a misdemeanor.
Two men entered the Sachi Fine Jewelry & Design just before noon Friday. They used pepper spray on one employee and struck the store's owner, 52-year-old Brad Jorgensen, with what he said was either a hammer or a gun, which they then used to smash jewelry cases. Jorgensen was treated at a local hospital and released.
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Jorgensen, who was back at his store yesterday, praised Haynes, calling him a good Samaritan.
"He was very responsible in the way he handled the matter," he said. "I probably would have done the same thing."
Jorgensen wasn't alone in those feelings.
"I don't think he did anything wrong; I don't think he should be punished," said Jason Milsom, who was working at his family's business, Black Cat Antiques, directly across the street from the jewelry store, at the time of the robbery.
"But I don't think everyone should run around with guns. In this case, it worked out OK. But it could have turned out much different."
Maybe the robbers will get some type of commendation since they used pepper spray
Instead, it is about job security, empire building, testing social theories, and control over the local populace.
Most of them would rather have a murderer go free than have a law-abiding citizen use force to stop a criminal.
The article states the robbers assulted the clerk and store owner before they stole anything. This police chief is not qualified to 'serve' because he cannot even observe correctly. He completely ignores the assult part of this robbery. He is definitely promoting "safety is more important than liberty and freedom" propaganda.
Civilized society promotes personal safety. I don't see how there can be civilization without the right to have and hold personal property. That implies the right to protect personal property. Of course their should be balance and justice. You shouldn't be subject to death for the theft of a quarter.
The point is that personal safety is not always, always more important tham the protection of property.
Neighbors and the owner of the store praised the man as a hero and good Samaritan.
Good luck with that prosecution, bozos...
Enforcement types tend to apply their officer "order book" requirements to civilian use of weapons. As I said on the earlier thread this situation clearly was out of bounds per the type restrictions applied to officers AND civiliams. The bad guys were fleeing, so no longer a direct threat to the civilian shooter or the robbery victims.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the civilian charged. However, my prediction is a jury would find him not guilty, since most citizens believe the action WAS justified and the right thing to do.
What is the name of the crime that a person who shoots at a fleeing felon or felons is charged with?
Damn. Talk about wet blankets....
If they were to charge him he would never NEVER ever be convicted by a jury in Snohomish county. All his lawyer would have to do is draw a line east of I-5 and North of Mill Creek, preempt everbody outside of that area and the resulting jury would pin him a medal, pipe him aboard every day he walked into court and then throw him a barbecue after the trial.
felonious discharge of course...
or premature eradication
how about vehicular homicide
Our personal property is -- in part -- a distillation or condensation of our lives and represents the time we invested WORKING to acquire it.
The Founders considered it important enough to discuss it in the Declaration of Independence with the phrase "...the pursuit of Happiness."
During that period of our language's evolution, that phrase was understood by all to be the right to freely acquire and hold PROPERTY!
The citizens of this jurisdiction should cashier the so-called public officials who are ignorant of this basic fact.
You are wrong. In the State of Washington, you can shoot a fleeing felon, especially if they have been warned to stop. This is a no brainer and the prosecutor will not file charges against the good samaritan. If fact, a private citizen has more leeway in using deadly force than a law enforcement official.
Two men entered the Sachi Fine Jewelry & Design just before noon Friday. They used pepper spray on one employee and struck the store's owner, 52-year-old Brad Jorgensen, with what he said was either a hammer or a gun, which they then used to smash jewelry cases. Jorgensen was treated at a local hospital and released.And some vigilante Bozo USED A GUN??? Good thing Washington is a liberal-dominated state. They know how to make it safe for people to continue the above activities.
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