It Doesn't Matter At All If Michael Brown Stole A Box Of Swisher Sweets Cigars

[big_dog]

Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson gave no further information about the incident that led to Brown being shot multiple times, but revealed that the 18-year-old was the lead suspect in a strong-arm robbery at a convenience store, where a box of Swisher Sweets cigars was stolen and a clerk was allegedly shoved. Surveillance photos released by police appear to show a figure that loosely fits Brown's description. Wilson was reportedly responding to the crime when he confronted Brown.

To be sure, any information at all about the day Brown was killed is useful, though the public way in which the police shared the photos of the incident at the convenience store suggest their motive was not public service and transparency, but an effort to shift the national media discussion to one about Brown's character.

Brown's potential involvement in a petty crime doesn't answer the questions that citizens of Ferguson have taken to the streets for the past six days to see answered: How and why did Brown end up dead in the middle of the street? Was Wilson justified in shooting down Brown? Did Brown really assault the officer in his vehicle and reach for his gun, as police claim? Did Wilson fire the fatal shot while Brown had his hands up, as other eyewitnesses claim? How does this incident play into the broader trend of police using excessive force on unarmed black males?

This continued failure to provide answers on the part of Ferguson Police brings up one final question: If Brown did push a convenience store clerk to steal a box of smokes, does it mean we should care any less about the horrific circumstances of his death? If you believe the answer to this question is no, then it doesn't matter if Michael Brown stole a box of cigars. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/15/michael-brown-stole-cigars_n_5682089.html

[sufrommich]

1. Thank you. nt

[big_dog]

3. Faux News will probably turn him into a full fledged gangbanger by the time of the cop's trial

Last edited Fri Aug 15, 2014, 02:32 PM - Edit history (1)

now watch the Repulicans jump in and make it a political issue

[uponit7771]

2. They changed their story so quick...

[big_dog]

4. THIS CASE IS ABOUT WHETHER DARREN WILSON WAS LEGALLY JUSTIFIED IN SHOOTING MICHAEL BROWN

It doesn't matter that Michael Brown was starting college on Monday. And it doesn't matter if he was involved in a robbery on Saturday. What matters is the precise circumstances in which Officer Darren Wilson shot Brown.
Constitutionally, there are two circumstances in which a cop is allowed to shoot: if he believes his life — or the life of another innocent party — is in danger, or if a violent felon is escaping. At the core of the Brown investigation are two competing stories: Darren Wilson, the police officer, says Brown assaulted him in his car and tried to grab his gun. Dorian Johnson, the eyewitness and Brown's friend, says that Wilson grabbed Brown, Brown fled, Wilson shot, and then — crucially — Brown stopped and put his hands in the air, but Wilson kept shooting.

If Brown assaulted Wilson and tried to grab his gun, and Wilson believed that his life or the life of others was threatened, then Wilson could have been legally justified in using deadly force at that moment. But Brown was shot multiple times, and the final shots, according to eyewitnesses, were fired after Brown surrendered with his hands up and told Wilson that he was unarmed. If Brown surrendered, the threat was neutralized, and Wilson shot him down anyway, then the shooting was illegal whether or not Brown had previously committed a violent crime.

This case is not about whether Michael Brown was One Of The Good Ones. It's not even about whether he robbed a convenience store. The penalty for stealing Swisher Sweets cigars from a convenience store is not execution in broad daylight. This case is about whether Wilson was legally justified in shooting Michael Brown. http://www.vox.com/2014/8/15/6005861/michael-brown-darren-wilson-ferguson-shooting

[MADem]

9. Robbery? Let's just go with the accusation, and find the deceased

guilty without a trial--I wouldn't call that a "robbery," good grief, that's more like "petty theft."

In any event, the police had no right to be judge, jury and executioner. If we're going to be supportive of law enforcement, and that's what they want, then they have to be supportive of the process as well--and that includes the right to a trial, which young Mister Brown never was afforded.

[big_dog]

11. i'd charge Darren Wilson with murder one and stop him from drawing a paycheck, thats for sure

no reason for this to go on as long as it has, the toxicology reports are meaningless here

[MADem]

12. Ok, do we know for sure that "Darren Wilson" is the guy?

It was Bryan Somebody Else, yesterday, according to "Anonymous" -- so much for their shitty "hacking" quals!

I really don't care if young Mister Brown was high as a kite and drunk as a skunk, with three packs of Tiparillos, a bottle of Moet, and a carton of Camels stuffed in his shirt--he had his hands in the air when he was hit with a hail of lead, and that's just not right.

The odds are that the accused shooter will draw pay until he's dismissed/fired by the PD, and assuming he's union, he'll have a union lawyer. If he's found guilty, that will certainly end his association with the PD.

That said, I think that county, that "unincorporated area" where Ferguson is situated, needs a little DOJ oversight and love. I think it would be a good idea for the State Police to assume a leadership role and be the boots on the ground to start a corrective process.

That place is plainly corrupt as hell.

[big_dog]

17. even if Wilson was just coming off a 3 bud light luncheon at TGI Fridays, he still killed a kid

in cold blood/broad daylight, in front of 3-4 witnesses that have come forward so far. we definitely need a special prosecutor here

[MADem]

18. So, the initial confusion about if Wilson was the actual guy is resolved?

I've been away from TV--are they saying the cop was drunk?

[WestCoastLib]

5. Which is exactly why people should stop talking about it

No. It doesn't matter. It's a smokescreen and I'm saddened to see so many (liberals) falling for it.

Stop talking about it.

Stop calling the video a fake.

Stop debating if it's Mike in the video.

Stop debating if it's a robbery or "the stills look worse than the live video"

Stop worrying about defending Mike in the (non)charge of robbery.


It doesn't matter. Mike was involved in an incident, or he wasn't. It doesn't matter at all, as he was shot while unarmed.

[big_dog]

7. watch the media coverage from now on shift .... same news source headlines

[etherealtruth]

10. The photos say it all

Mass murderer ....portrayed positively (WTF?)

Murder is "a scary black teen/man" .... dear God .... the kid was a recent high school graduate on his way to starting his first year at a local college .... and HE WAS MURDERED BY THE POLICE (the bolded part is all that really matters)

[hifiguy]

15. Yup.

So sad and so true.

[Enrique]

8. in a way it does matter

maybe not legally, but this story is not just about legalities. The fact that so many people want to deny the robbery means that it matters to them.

Speaking for myself, it does matter to me.

[cleduc]

13. It matters some to me as well

But in a somewhat limited way.

Brown's friend Johnson says Brown ripped off the cigars - (source MSNBC & Johnson's lawyer).

The video/photos show Brown getting physical or physically intimidating the little store clerk as he tries to stop Brown from the theft.

If I'm a member of the jury, then the notion I got previously about Mike Brown being an honest, meek and mild big guy who wouldn't hurt a fly nor fight over something as trivial as stealing a box of cheap cigars goes out the window. And I have to take the police's claim that Brown assaulted a police officer/physically resisted arrest much more seriously as plausible pending more evidence.

Does that justify a cop plugging Brown several times in the back as he's standing there with his hands up? No way but the jury is out on whether that accurately describes what went down too though some eye witnesses say that's what happened. I continue to strongly suspect excessive force was used by the police officer. But I'm not quite as sympathetic as I was towards Brown before when it smelled more of racial profiling and hunting down an innocent citizen who wouldn't hurt a fly.

Brown does appear to bear some responsibility for his own, although arguably unjust, demise compared to a completely innocent person. Whatever I might have sentenced the officer probably would be higher than what I might sentence that officer to now. It matters.

[avaistheone1]

6. People are executed regularly in the USA without the benefit of a judge or jury over petty theft

Not saying Ferguson stole anything but if he did, it was criminal for the police to execute him for it.

[Avalux]

14. The police are trying to confuse the situation...doesn't matter.

I don't care what he did or tried to do; his personal character doesn't in any way justify being gunned down in cold blood.

[Initech]

19. I thought we had a right to a fair trial in this country.

When the police can shoot you on sight for any reason, with no warrant, arrest, or conviction, that's fucked up beyond repair.

[Cha]

20. Aurora shooter is alive. Mike Brown is not. I don't give a damn if he stole every cigarillo they..

Claudineopatra @kiffanik
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Aurora shooter is alive. Mike Brown is not. That's all I need to know. I don't give a damn if he stole every cigarillo they had. #Ferguson 6:12 AM - 15 Aug 2014 4 Retweets 4 favorites

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