The two Sikh 7-Eleven employees who were caught on video assaulting an attempted burglar at their California store will not be charged, the city’s mayor says.
On Tuesday, Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln took to social media to say staff members “are not, and never were, suspects” in the July 29 incident.
During the shocking robbery, a suspected homeless man jumped behind the supermarket counter and attempted to empty shelves into a trash can.
An employee saw the man and took him to the ground while another began hitting the attempted robber with a stick, a witness said.
After the abolition, police issued a statement saying they were investigating the employees, who Lincoln now says are no longer eligible.
“Any future investigation is to hold accountable the person who threatened the store employees and attempted to rob them,” a Twitter post said Tuesday.
The two Sikh 7-Eleven employees who were caught on video assaulting an attempted burglar at their California store will not be charged, the city’s mayor says
On Tuesday, Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln (pictured) took to social media to say staff members “are not, and never were, suspects” in the July 29 incident.
Lincoln said while the Stockton Police Department is still investigating the incidents, he was reassured by the district attorney’s office that officers were not the focus.
He said his information on the case came from a conversation with San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas that took place on Tuesday.
In addition, the Republican mayor criticized California’s controversial Proposition 47 law, which downgraded many previous felonies to misdemeanors.
Lincoln wrote that the law impacts businesses that are seeing increases in shoplifting and that it will limit “law enforcement’s ability to hold fraudsters accountable.”
Video of the attempted robbery and beating by store employees blew up on social media, with many applauding the employees for standing up to the thief.
The thief in question was allegedly trying to steal tobacco products from behind the counter and it was reportedly the third time in two days that he had targeted the store.
Despite widespread praise for the workers, Stockton Police released a statement saying the workers were being investigated for assault.
“We have been made aware that a video has been circulating of two 7-Eleven employees attacking a suspected robbery. “We are aware of the incident and the investigation is ongoing,” the statement said.
“Any future investigation is to hold accountable the person who threatened and attempted to rob the store employees,” Lincoln wrote on Twitter Tuesday
The witness who took the video praised the “brave” workers. Police said the incident stemmed from multiple thefts at the store by the same suspect.
At 3:41 a.m. on July 28, employees at the 7-Eleven reported that a man entered the store, “went behind the counter and threatened to shoot the victim if he intervened,” police said.
“The suspect then took several packs of cigarettes and other items and put them in a large garbage bag before fleeing.”
The next day at 12:27 a.m., the same man came back and “demanded money while pretending to have a gun.”
“The employee did not comply; Therefore, the suspect grabbed several groceries and put them in a garbage bag before fleeing,” police said.
The thief returned a few hours later with the bin and attempted to fill it with cigarettes before staff were filmed beating him.
He left the business and later sought medical attention for his injuries.
“At 3:05am on July 29, 2023, officers moved into the Center St/Market St area to meet with the Stockton Fire Dept who was with a man [the suspect] He asked for medical help and complained of pain in his leg and shoulder,” police said.
“The man did not know if he had been attacked.” The man was then taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for his pain.”
The suspect had targeted the store several times in the days leading up to the dramatic incident
The second 7-Eleven employee came and hit the thief with a large wooden stick
Witness Louis Benton (pictured), who filmed the viral footage, told abc10: “I was shocked so I really didn’t say anything in the video.”
The alleged robber Tyrone Frazier (pictured) is accused of, among other things, robbery, attempted robbery, criminal threats, commercial burglary and vandalism
On Wednesday, attempted robbery Tyrone Frazier appeared in court and did not file a complaint on six counts.
Frazier faces two counts of robbery, attempted robbery, criminal threats, commercial burglary and vandalism.
One of the allegations is related to the attempted robbery, which was caught on video.
Witness Louis Benton, who filmed the viral footage, told abc10: “I was shocked, so I really didn’t say anything in the video.”
“I really just posted it on my (Instagram) stories and then someone removed it from my stories and it just went viral,” he said in part.
“These two workers who were protecting their business did a brave act.” I think if I weren’t there, this guy would probably be hurt even more than he was.
“The police station is right across the street. Why is there no presence there?
“The community needs to look out for each other and we need to make sure we’re doing the right things morally.” “We need to change.”