Man thwarts robbery attempt in Ann Arbor by refusing to hand over cash
Two men attempted to rob a man Sunday near South Division and East Jefferson streets in Ann Arbor, but the victim refused to hand over any money, police said.
About 8 p.m., the victim, an Ann Arbor resident, was walking near the intersection on his way to Blimpy Burger when two men started walking with him, police spokeswoman Lt. Renee Bush said.
One of the men asked the victim a question, then told him to hand over everything he had, Bush said. The victim refused, saying he was simply trying to get home. At one point, one of the men threatened to shoot the victim, police said, but no weapons were seen.
The victim saw a woman walking by and began to walk with her, police said. The men left the area. So far, no arrests have been made.
Both men involved were black and in their 20s, police said. One was 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighed about 150 pounds and was wearing a red sweatshirt. The other was 6 feet, 3 inches tall, weighed about 190 pounds and was wearing a gray sweatshirt. He had a goatee, police said.
Anyone with information can call the police department's confidential tip line at (734) 794-6939.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
RJA
Wed, Oct 5, 2011 : 12:40 a.m.
This must have been a super woman that he began to walk with...glad no one was injured.
cinnabar7071
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 4:13 p.m.
"At one point, one of the men threatened to shoot the victim, police said, but no weapons were seen." At this point would the victim be justified in pulling a weapon and taking out the threat if he were a CPL holder, or would he have to see a weapon first?
Ricebrnr
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 7:34 p.m.
Very correct, hence: "So the question becomes not just if you are justified, BUT can you also reasonably and coherently communicate that justification to the authorities." SO if this was you, can you state what exactly they said and did that made you fear for your life? Do you understand and can you properly articulate what "disparity of force" means and how it applies to you? Lots of things you need to know to defend your life and that includes before and after your critical incident. NOT just during.
james
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 6:17 p.m.
The problem is that if they don't have a weapon and you kill them, nobody will know what actually went down (IE: they said they had a weapon). Also, these criminals just happened to be black. If you are white, race will definitely be brought into the case.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
If it was you, would you "honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent death of or imminent great bodily harm to yourself or herself or to another individual."? Because any use of the firearm including simply drawing it is considered a use of deadly force. So the question becomes not just if you are justified, BUT can you also reasonably and coherently communicate that justification to the authorities. SELF-DEFENSE ACT (EXCERPT) Act 309 of 2006 780.972 Use of deadly force by individual not engaged in commission of crime; conditions. Sec. 2. (1) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses deadly force may use deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if either of the following applies: (a) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent death of or imminent great bodily harm to himself or herself or to another individual. (b) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent sexual assault of himself or herself or of another individual. (2) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses force other than deadly force may use force other than deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if he or she honestly and reasonably believes that the use of that force is necessary to defend himself or herself or another individual from the imminent unlawful use of force by another individual. This is just the tip of the iceberg on this topic and if you truly are curious, Masaad Ayoob's "In the Gravest Extreme" is a really good place to start.
glimmertwin
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 4:13 p.m.
I'm glad their bluff was just that. The only way this story could be better if the 2 thugs while crossing the street were run over by a bus.
djm12652
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 6:11 p.m.
Dang...wish I was a bus driver....
Ricebrnr
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.
If you threaten someone's life over trivial items that you have no right too...I'd be ok if Karma immediately rectified the situation yes.
glimmertwin
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 5:02 p.m.
I think the accidental death of these two would be just fine.
DBH
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 4:47 p.m.
Do you think death is an appropriate punishment for all crimes?