A video of the robber being knocked to the ground by a Sikh owner of a 7-Eleven store in California went viral online.
The clip showed the robber walking behind the billing counter and grabbing tobacco products — including cigarettes, cigars and vapes.
He then tossed them into a waste bin.
“Just let him go. There ain’t nothing you can do. They’re not going to do nothing,” the bystander who took the video can be heard saying.
Stockton police started investigating the assault of a 7-Eleven robbery suspect. The police later identified the suspect and arrested him later. He was also found to be connected to other robberies in the area, according to the Stockton Police Department.
While the Sikh owner and his employee came under attack by many social media users for the assault of the robber, Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln took to social media share District Attorney’s statement that the 7/11 store clerks seen attacking a suspected shoplifter “are not and never have been suspects.”
Lincoln wrote, “The events surrounding the viral video from 7-11 on Centre St are under active investigation by Stockton PD. Once completed, SPD will forward the case to San Joaquin Country District Attorney’s Office.”
He further added, “In a statement released by the District’s Attorney’s Office, 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.”
At the end of the post, Lincoln states that Proposition 47, which changed certain theft offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, has only increased the frequency of shoplifting and decreased law enforcement’s “ability to hold accountable those responsible for such acts.”
