Posted on 10/11/2005 9:49:36 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
A possible attempted armed robbery failed Tuesday, Oct. 4, when an alert business owner confronted the occupants of a vehicle.
According to East Brewton Police Chief B.C. Cooper, the department received a call on Tuesday morning from S & J Grocery, located on Shoffner Street, reporting a suspicious vehicle. An employee was carrying the trash out and noticed the car tag was covered up and the female driver was trying to keep her face covered with a camouflage cap. The employee returned to the store and reported to the owner, Richard Maxwell, what she had seen.
”We have been robbed several times in the last few years,“ he said. ”There were women and children in here this time and I knew that I couldn't let these people come into the store, if that was what they were planning. I had my gun in my pocket and walked out to the car. I saw a gun lying on the front seat and noticed that it was quickly covered up. I let them know that I had a gun and told them they could not come in. The woman was driving and she quickly sped away.“
Chief Cooper began a search for the vehicle and late that afternoon it was spotted. The tag was expired and when the vehicle was stopped, the officer asked to see a license and he noticed a gun lying on the floorboard behind the passenger seat. He also saw some empty containers. While the car was detained, a search was made for previous charges and it was discovered the man had a record in Texas. A search was then made of the vehicle and drugs and drug paraphernalia, in addition to the gun, were found.
The Drug Task Force was called in to investigate and to make the charges. Randall Carmichael, 22, was charged with possession of marijuana, second degree, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a forbidden firearm. He was booked and taken to the Escambia County Detention Center. The woman was not charged, according to the sheriff's reports, but Chief Cooper said it would be up to the Drug Task Force to determine the charges.
”We don't know for sure they planned a robbery of the store,“ he said. ”The tag may have been covered because it was expired. But, the vehicle was carrying drugs, a gun and drug paraphernalia.“
Wow, a pre-emptive strike against crime!
This may be a dumb question, but what is "possession of a forbidden firearm"? Does this mean he had a gun that is illegal to possess, or does it mean that he was forbidden from possessing a gun? Does this mean the guy had an assault rifle or something? Where can I find out what guns are "forbidden"?
/sarcasm
As a WAG, I would say that it was a felon in possession of a handgun.
”We don't know for sure they planned a robbery of the store,“
Yeah...um, maybe they were wanting to get lottery tickets or just taking a break from driving around all day.
"discovered the man had a record in Texas."
That likely makes any firearm "forbidden".
As a WAG, I would say that it was a felon in possession of a handgun.
This is the second time I have seen the "forbidden firearm" thing, and it makes me wonder. Shouldn't they have said "illegal possession of a firearm" rather than "possession of a forbidden firearm"?
The forbidden firearm charge was the same that I saw in the article about the guy here in Texas that lost his ranch to illegal aliens who sued him for mistreatment. He was in jail for 5 years for "possession of an illegal firearm" if I remember the article correctly, and couldn't defend himself at the civil trial. A curious choice of words, if they mean he wasn't allowed to possess a firearm. Just curious. Thanks!
Damned Vigilantes! sarc
It is a curious phrase.
Open alcohol containers (empty beer cans) a firearm not in a case lying on the backseat floor in a vehicle driven by a convicted felon . You are a local cop & you get a BOLO for this vehicle in regards to a attmepted robbery, you see all of this & you've got all the probable cause you want for searching the vehicle & taking the occupants in for questioning.
Thanks for the ping!
The term "forbidden firearm" makes the gun bad while "illegal possession" makes the person bad. The usual gun hater spin on something simple.
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