Stockton, California’s mayor announced that the Sikh 7-Eleven employees who beat a would-be robber several times with a stick last month will not be charged with any crimes.
“The events surrounding the viral video from the 7-11 on Center St. are under active investigation by Stockton PD,” Mayor Kevin Lincoln said. “The District Attorney’s Office is the agency that charges individuals concerning crimes alleged. In a statement released by the District Attorney’s Office today, DA Freitas expressed that ‘the store clerks are not and have never been suspects’ of the DA’s Office and ‘Any investigation going forward is to hold accountable the individual who threatened and attempted to rob the store clerks.'”
The robbery suspect reportedly targeted the 7-Eleven location twice within 24 hours of the incident, according to police. The first incident occurred on July 28 at 3:41 a.m.; police described, “an employee of 7-Eleven reported a suspect entered the business, went behind the counter, and threatened to shoot the victim if he intervened. The suspect then took hi several packs of cigarettes and other items and placed them in a large garbage bag before fleeing.”
Authorities reported that the following day at 12:27 a.m., “The employee reported the same suspect from the previous incident entered the business and demanded money while simulating having a handgun. The employee did not comply; therefore, the suspect grabbed several food items and placed them in a garbage bag before fleeing.”
Video of the July 29 take-down, filmed by a customer in the 7-Eleven, showed a man behind the counter with a large trash can, which he began filling with cigarettes and other merchandise. The customer can be heard asking the shop owners if they “have insurance” because “there’s nothing [they] can do until police come.”
One of the men working in the store then confronted the man, wrested him away from the trash can full of products, and pushed him to the ground. The other picked up a large stick, and began beating the would-be robber while he was on the floor.
After watching the swift actions taken by the clerks, the customer filming began verbally supporting on the two store employees who apprehended the robber. The incident quickly went viral online, garnering national attention.
In his statement, the Mayor said, “California state law, Proposition 47, hinders businesses daily by increasing shoplifting incidents and decreasing our law enforcement’s ability to hold accountable those responsible for such acts.”
Proposition 47 changes “certain theft and drug possession offenses from felonies to misdemeanors,” to “ensure that prison spending is focused on violent and serious offenses, to maximize alternatives for non-serious, nonviolent crime.” Under this proposition, anyone who steals less than $950 in merchandise will be subject to a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
Several store owners have criticized the policy changes and now have to lock up entire aisles of products to prevent brazen shoplifters from hurting their businesses further.
