CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Charge filed in shoplift-turned-robbery

StopCuttingDownTrees June 11, 2022 (12:19 am)

Wow. I’m shocked that a REAL judge actually set REAL bail for an armed robber in this region. This gives me hope for our future.

Question Authority June 11, 2022 (8:26 am)

Threatening to kill someone does take it up a notch but what happens next will be the true test of accountability and needed punishment.
- Rita June 12, 2022 (2:47 pm)
  
  It states that he seemed to be in a state of crisis. Yes let’s see if he gets help or is just thrown onto jail to get worse. He was obviously hungry. He took a SANDWICH for pgoodness sake.
  - hj June 12, 2022 (7:11 pm)
    
    He didn’t just take a sandwich, he threatened someone’s life with a weapon. That’s why it’s robbery and not shoplifting.

Compassionate solutions June 11, 2022 (8:46 am)

How scary and stressful for this worker.

Maybe we can try to come up with some new compassionate solutions to the issue of people stealing food, and to help reduce these incidents from happening in the first place?

What if Thriftway (and other places) donated food (excess, seconds, or near expiration) to a volunteer run food truck in WS that serves satisfying free meals twice a day to folks in need?

This isn’t to say the crime or threatening or violent behavior is okay. It’s not okay. But when I hear about a crime, my problem solving brain identifies there is a people issue, a need, which is leading to this behavior, and what more can we do to help people and make society a better place?

A solution like this would seem a win win, for the grocery stores to have some empowerment to help reduce these crimes on their businesses, and while helping people in need.

Also, regarding another loosely related topic. If we don’t want people using the outdoors as a bathroom, more accessible bathrooms for all people, would seem to make sense.

Let’s invest in compassionate solutions. There are different ways to invest, from coming up with ideas and speaking about them, hands on volunteer work, to paying taxes and donating money or materials. Many ways for folks to contribute to solutions!

Accessible housing, food, and bathrooms for people who need them, a good place to start.

WSB June 11, 2022 (4:15 pm)

Datapoint, Thriftway (and other places) do donate food. The WS Food Bank van is a regular sight in the parking lot. It’s one of many local establishments on the “rescue” list on the WSFB site:
https://westseattlefoodbank.org/our-partners/
- Compassionate solutions June 11, 2022 (11:36 pm)
  
  Thanks WSB. It’s good to hear Thriftway, and others, donate to the food bank.
  
  The food bank is one great resource for the community in need, especially for housed lower income folks.
  
  But a food bank is not the same as a service providing accessible prepared meals for more vulnerable homeless folks, who don’t have kitchens, refrigerators, or cubboards to keep and prepare groceries.
  
  Also not sure if the food bank is open every day and durring the times when a homeless person might be hungry for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
  
  Then there is the matter of helping these individuals connect with resources. Some may not even know of the food bank or where else they might find a meal. They may not have a cell phone or way to easily find the information.
  
  It seems there is a gap between need and resources available, in regards to food and hunger, in the community.
  - anonyme June 12, 2022 (12:22 pm)
    
    I was thinking the same thing. There must be better ways of distributing food for immediate consumption to people who don’t have communication or transportation resources. I’m sure a lot of folks are falling through this gap. If food could be picked up from grocery stores and restaurants in the morning and distributed at set times and places throughout the community on a daily basis, that might be a start. I’m sure word would get around.
Rita June 12, 2022 (2:57 pm)

You are so right. Stay on the band wagon and maybe we can make this happen. Maybe contact Albertsons head quarters to start the ball rolling. I do know that down here in Portland Fred Meyer donates out dated food to the elderly communities. They have to jump thru some hoops but it totally works. Good luck. We all need this to happen.

anonyme June 11, 2022 (9:34 am)

I’m not condoning what this guy did, but it does make me sad that someone in crisis is hungry enough to go through this for a sandwich. What happens to all the day-old food? Is it donated, or tossed?

Jay June 11, 2022 (11:20 am)

Sadder that this person didn’t get appropriate mental healthcare after the first arrest. We need to rethink involuntary inpatient mental health/ addiction hospitals and residential care. It seems like crime and homelessness could be greatly reduced. People could be fed and sheltered while getting needed treatments. Our streets could be safer. The sick could be better served. If we put our ‘end homelessness’ budget toward treating the sick it might make a huge difference.
- anonyme June 12, 2022 (6:25 am)
  
  Jay, I agree completely. I also differentiate between someone stealing a sandwich because they have no food and someone stealing a catalytic converter. There may be some overlap, but not much. I also don’t think that someone “in crisis” with mental health issues is in a position to seek out a food bank, or, being homeless, that a food bank would address their immediate need. Don’t get me wrong, the situation was also horrible for the store employees and required a police response. I’m just agreeing with Jay that a hospital would have been a better intervention and at an earlier point in time.
  - Compassionate solutions June 12, 2022 (11:02 am)
    
    Or how about connection to stable resources that would improve their circumstances and help to meet their basic needs?
    
    Homelessness and issues of poverty are not one in the same as mental illness.
    
    Not all who are homeless or poor are seriously mentally ill. You can be homeless or poor and in need of food and not be severely mentally ill and requiring hospitalization.
    
    On the other hand, not all who are housed and have more resources are mentally well.
    
    Sometimes life events or circumstances can create hardships that push people into these situations. Also, stress, sadness, grief, anger, anxiety, are all normal human reactions to certain circumstances and experiences, and are overly labeled as mental illness.
    
    Furthermore, the experiences of poverty and homelessness can cause symptoms and conditions of mental illness, and understandably so. We’re talking about serious day to day stress and trauma.
    
    Though it’s true mental illness may contribute to some becoming homeless, or to this kind of behavior, we cannot assume and generalize and label everyone experiencing homelessness or other difficulties in life as severely mentally ill. We can recognize their circumstances and experience and set of needs not being met, and have some empathy.
- Rita June 12, 2022 (3:15 pm)
  
  RIGHT ON!!!
- Rita June 15, 2022 (10:01 pm)
  
  You are so on point. Now we all need to work to make this happen. How many of you have ever delt with someone who is in crisis? Don’t pass judgment till you have walked their shoes.
Rita June 12, 2022 (3:01 pm)

Being homeless I an sure he was that hungry. Being stable I pray you never experience homelessness.

Alki resident June 11, 2022 (10:11 am)

Wow Ryan, what’s happened to you?

Julene Knake June 12, 2022 (5:30 pm)

Mental health.
EtherialBliss June 17, 2022 (1:23 am)

Just curious… sounds like you know him. Is that correct or am I erroneous in my assumption? If so, how long have you known him? Again, JUST curious… You are obviously not obligated to let me (us) know, but I would sure appreciate it IF you could answer that question. Hope all is well, either way!! Cheers, Serenity and Wholeness to you and yours!!!

zipda June 11, 2022 (10:40 am)

7 jail bookings yet no convictions. Wow.

Julene Knake June 12, 2022 (5:32 pm)

Yes, he’s not a bad person, he’s got mental health issues, and he’s not getting the help that he needs. Our system is broken. 💔
- Compassionate solutions June 12, 2022 (6:05 pm)
  
  Thanks for sharing, Julene. Hope he may be connected with better help and services at this time. :(
  - Julene Knake June 13, 2022 (10:39 pm)
    
    Thank you, we’re hoping for the same.

Hammer in Hand June 11, 2022 (10:57 am)

Thriftway has a daily visit from the Salvation Army van in white center every morning to pick up donations. If this person was hungry there are services to combat that, in place ready to serve. Don’t blame Thriftway stealing is stealing regardless of the why

Socialcontract June 11, 2022 (3:04 pm)

There are many resources for those that are hungry and still want to be part of society. Most shoplifters are rebelling against the system. An expression of independence. A form of street art which we all can appreciate!
- Question Authority June 11, 2022 (6:14 pm)
  
  Wow, stealing from others is now considered art? You want to rebel and express independence go get a job and pay for things not belonging to you instead of taking from others hard work.
  - Compassionate solutions June 11, 2022 (11:49 pm)
    
    ‘go get a job’
    
    Unfortunately life isn’t this simple or black and white for everyone’s situation.
    
    It’s not easy to go out and get a job and hold it down with the circumstances and stress of homelessness, and all that goes along with that, and likely trauma that led to it.
    
    You are expecting folks who are being let down by society to function within that society, at the same level as others, while their most basic needs aren’t being met?
    
    That is both unrealistic and an unfair request of many of these folks, with where their at.
  - Rita June 12, 2022 (3:13 pm)
    
    It is kind of hard to “get a job” when one is homeless…no place to take a shower to even go for an interview much less to go to work clean (no place to get a good nights sleep (out of the snow, all the rain, freezing weather and extreme heat we are getting). When you are willing to open your home to one or more of these people Then you have no right to judge them…only once you have actually walked in their shoes.
- Julene Knake June 12, 2022 (5:36 pm)
  
  Yes, there are! Thank God for those programs. But, what about the one’s like my brother who are not mentally capable of advocating for themselves in this manor? Or wanting help from others? We need more metal help. Our system is broken, and those of us that are the family members of those that suffer feel so helpless. 😔
  - Compassionate solutions June 12, 2022 (6:20 pm)
    
    I’m sorry for your brothers suffering and for your families pain, too.
    
    Every individuals situation is different, with unique and complex reasons for their circumstances and issues.
    
    Is there a scenario of help you think he would accept? What does he want or think he needs, do you know? Or do you think he is he currently too ill to know himself?
    
    Understand if you’d rather not share further, and respect your families privacy.
    - EtherialBliss June 16, 2022 (10:51 pm)
      
      You ask a valid question!! The OTHER question lies withing “broken families”. The PTSD from, say, parents splitting-up (even if you are an adult, it effects you)… Along with other types of “dysfunction” that can create a toxic environment for one to be even ASSOCIATED with…The “answers”, however, do NOT lie in “Big-Daddy Government”. I know a LOT of “people” BELIEVE (as in a true “belief system” (i.e. religion), in “Big-Daddy Government” to get by (some even abuse and twist the “system” in their “favor”)… I personally think that the “trauma” in which you speak is REAL!! But trying to use a system that sees EVERYONE as either a “square”, “round” or “triangle peg” has absolutely NO capacity to “help” one that is in the shape of a “hexagon” or a “star”… As you say: “Each individual[‘s] situation is different…” and being “different”, THEY are discarded and are called “outliers”, simply because they don’t “fit” in the “Big-Daddy Government’s System”.I tell you this though… “The Family Break-Up” was GENIUS in taking-down and co-opting and subverting “The American Way” (in context: to over ~150++ years ago). “We” cannot rely on a “mechanically, cold system” to even TRY and “fix” some of these people. As some of these people do not WANT or see the need to be “fixed”. To them, they are TOTALLY normal… and if you LOOK into these “communities”… the ARE “normal” (in relation to each other) They are a total reflection of “society” in general and what “I” am seeing it TOTAL chaos… and NOT in a “Good” way!!Personally? The old adage; “It takes a village…” Well, IF that village is “broken”, THEN what happens? Almost ALL of “us”, now, have SOME form or another of PTSD. It’s TIME that “we” bring it all back together, in order for ALL to “heal”.Just my two-cents on this topic of “healing”… Nothing more/nothing less…Cheers, Serenity and Wholeness to all.

flimflam June 11, 2022 (6:07 pm)

There are a lot of resources for food in Seattle, the whole “it’s so sad that people have to steal” is tired and simply not accurate.

CommunityCare June 11, 2022 (6:58 pm)

Try not eating for a while and see if you make the best decisions. Trauma impacts the brain’s ability to think logically. think about a time something really bad happened to you, were you able to think rationally afterwards? Probably not. An example I use when trying to explain to privileged people the impact of trauma on the brain is this: you have an important project at work that had a 5pm deadline, your kids school calls that they’ve been in an accident and you need to go pick them up, your tire pops on the freeway and you got into an accident, and you’re the only one who can pick up your kid. Now, go home and submit the important project, is it going to be your best work? Nope! this is the way compounded trauma and stress impacts people- obviously this is an oversimplified example. Not saying that threatening someone is right, but this is beyond a right and wrong conversation and we need to think about how to approach our community with compassion. Especially those of us who are privileged and dont have to worry about our basic needs being met… unless you’ve been in their exact situation, you probably do not understand how you would respond to their situation.
- Compassionate solutions June 11, 2022 (11:57 pm)
  
  Good comment, thanks CommunityCare 👍
- Julene Knake June 12, 2022 (5:52 pm)
  
  Thank you so much for these kind words of wisdom. 👍❤
- Rd June 15, 2022 (10:11 pm)
  
  Yes Thanks for the really good and humane insight.

Compassionate solutions June 11, 2022 (11:10 pm)

Oh come on, most who steal food are not doing so to rebel and be independent. Most Probably have a complex set of issues which lead to this. If they seem to act like they are just rebels, that may be part of their coping and survival strategy. It is human to want to feel safe and have basic needs met, and not typical to choose such difficulty. Unlikely this guy was stealing a sandwich out of rebellious enjoyment, but rather out of real hunger and desperation. A feeling many of us might be lucky to never have to experience. His severe reaction, while not okay, may have a lot to do with his level of hunger and out of stress and fear when he was confronted, and possibly drug related impacts. Is it wrong to steal? Yes. Should this guy be confronted and treated like a horrendous person for stealing a sandwich?… debateable. Might there be another way to respond and also ways to help prevent these incidents?…. I think possibly so.

Walker June 12, 2022 (6:32 am)

You conveniently left out the knife and threat to the other person’s life in your rush to defend this guy.
- Compassionate solutions June 12, 2022 (10:28 am)
  
  You conveniently spin the point of my comment to make it seem I’m defending or condoning that behavior which I do not and have not.
  
  What I was speaking to was that his motivation regarding stealing a sandwich likely had more to do with real hunger than trying to be rebellious cool, as another commenter suggested.
  
  It is not okay that he threatened the worker.
  
  But perhaps we can try to understand what led to this behavior, and recognize the help people are needing.
  
  To be compassionate yes, but also as a matter of practicality, if we want to solve and prevent certain issues.
  
  Food is a basic need, and hunger is an issue for some, along with their other issues.
  - Socialcontract June 12, 2022 (12:04 pm)
    
    “Rebellious” and “independent” actions can occur outside the context of teenage angst or a desire to be perceived as “cool” by one’s peers. This behavior is wrapped up in identity; both how one sees oneself and is seen by others. This is a major issue both the homeless and the mentally ill struggle with. My comment about street art (I thought) was obviously facetious.
    - Compassionate solutions June 12, 2022 (1:39 pm)
      
      Still have to disagree with your previous statement that, ‘most shoplifters are rebelling against the system. An expression of independence. A form of street art which we all can appreciate!’
      
      And again, what you may be perceiving and judging as an issue of a rebellious and independent attitude, may be part of how these folks cope and survive their hard situations and circumstances.
  - Rhonda June 12, 2022 (1:56 pm)
    
    He’s now getting regular, nutritious meals in jail where he can’t commit armed robbery against struggling, minimum-wage workers who are trying to feed their families, keep roofs over their heads, and pay their utility bills. Where’s your compassion for his traumatized victims?
    - Compassionate solutions June 12, 2022 (4:55 pm)
      
      See the first sentence, in my first comment on this thread.
      
      Also, let’s not imply he entered the store weilding a weapon and threatening people. He stole a sandwich, was confronted for it, and in that interaction became threatening. Not to say that is okay, bit there is a difference.
      
      So, you have compassion for people struggling who have good work and housing, but not compassion for folks who have less than that, and who find themselves having to steal sandwiches to feed themselves, and being chased down and punished for that?
    - where is the love? June 13, 2022 (2:43 am)
      
      YES! this is exactly why we can’t come together to support each other, this consistent narrative about who is the most oppressed, who deserves to be cared for etc. What would happen if we decided and truly believed that we all deserve love and care just because we exist. someone doesn’t deserve food because they work hard and are contributing members of society, we all deserve to feel and be safe PERIOD. all of us. Again, it’s sucks that there are people who were also in turn traumatized by this situation and incident, and I hope they can find ways to regulate their bodies. What I am seeing here in this incident, as a privileged person who gets to sit at home warm and full is that this person clearly needs support, and their central nervous system is disregulated, and they didn’t feel safe so they did they thing they know how to keep themselves safe. It makes me so sad to think that this is just one person in our community who needs support. what would’ve happened if the person behind the counter would’ve said “hey, I see you’re hungry. I’m sorry. Here is a list of places you can get some support”
    - Compassionate solutions June 13, 2022 (4:13 pm)
      
      Appreciate your comment, and agree with your last thought there.
      
      Think it’s worthwhile to consider different approaches and reactions to incidents like this.
      
      Totally understand theft is a problem for stores and is probably infuriating.
      
      But if they could pause and see a person in need who is feeling desperate, and also consider how they may react in confrontation, maybe there could be a better way to respond in the future.
      
      Not that it’s okay this person was threatening. But it’s possible for that to not be okay, and to consider if there’s a better way the store can respond to these situations. Both can be true.
      
      Another idea for approaching this issue might be to put up a sign at the entrance that says, are you hungry but unable to buy anything, please ask for the manager, we want to help. Then the store would have an opportunity to make connections with these folks, offer a list of resources (which might currently be lacking), and maybe a free sandwich. Perhaps stores could even receive some funding to help cover some costs for this kind of thing. Just one idea.
      
      Thanks for sharing some love with your comment :)
    - EtherialBliss June 16, 2022 (11:51 pm)
      
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      My question to that response, is WHAT made this person feel
      “threatened” enough to brandish a knife in the first place?!? Does a
      “…struggling, minimum-wage worker…” feel the NEED to approach
      someone aggressively enough to make them FEEL “threatened”? I mean,
      if I were this “…struggling, minimum-wage worker…” I’d have
      probably picked-up ANTHER sandwich and GIVEN it to him and kindly ask him to
      leave, “BEFORE you [he] gets caught”. Which psychologically, he’s
      ALREADY “caught” (or at least on the verge OF) knowing that an employee
      of the store has already witnessed him stash this freaking SANDWICH to begin
      with. Yet advertently and humanely, given him a “Get Out of Jail
      Free” card (NOW?!? LITERALLY!‼). I know that if the “…struggling, minimum-wage
      worker…”, had simply, by making EYE contact with him and politely saying;
      “Hi! Can I help you with anything?” or just a simple “Hi!” (again,
      with EYE CONTACT), would have sufficed AND would have probably gotten him OUT
      of there, without ANY incidence.” Yet I digress… BACK to the “…struggling,
      minimum-wage worker…” WHY would a “…struggling, minimum-wage
      worker…” need to feel like he needs to play “HERO” (and came
      out a “ZERO” in my opinion), over a freaking [ham?] SANDWICH…?!? This
      certainly would NOT have made the store go bankrupt. Also, it is NOT clear HOW
      the “…struggling, minimum-wage worker…” approached him. SOMEthing
      that the “”…struggling, minimum-wage worker…” did or said, HAD to
      have “triggered” him into “Fight, Flight or Freeze” mode. Obviously, it was the
      “Fight and Flight” that was brought forth. So, HOW was this “handled” by the “…struggling,
      minimum-wage worker…” at the time? Do we have camera footage of this
      event happening? Do we have “sound”? I’d LOVE to know WHAT the verbal (or even physical)
      interactions actually LOOKED like. Heck’s All-Mighty‼ I mean, even being a
      “…struggling, minimum-wage worker…” …they could have PROBABLY
      afforded to BUY the danged sammich FOR this cat. I certainly know that “I”
      would have and from what I am reading, a LOT of people “here” would have also. Anyway… just my thoughts and questions on
      the whole “…struggling, minimum-wage worker…” comment. Cheers! :
      )
- Rd June 15, 2022 (10:28 pm)
  
  Ok so what kind and size of knife have you conjured up in your mind? I tend to think it was a small pocket knife. Another way for the employee to have handled the situation was to go report what was going on to their supervisor and the supervisor would have more than likely reported it to the police keeping everyone safe. No one’s life is worth a SANDWICH which more than likely not very good in the first place. And all employees should be trained on this having been a store manager in Rainer Valley. Another note. I am sure this guy had no way to find out where and when to get free help…no phone and obviously not with a group of people. I hope you never have to experience a crisis!!!.
  - WSB June 15, 2022 (11:20 pm)
    
    According to the charging documents, it was a “blue-colored fixed-blade kitchen knife.” No further descriptive information.

snowskier June 13, 2022 (11:53 am)

Glad to see that he’s in a place where he can be fed regularly and not pull a knife on anyone. I hope the weapons charge gets him confined to a place where his needs can be addressed.

What I can’t understand is the lack of worry for the person who had the knife pulled on them while doing their job. I mean seriously?? A few year ago a friend was nearly stabbed to death by someone ‘in distress’ in West Seattle. I’m happy to have those ‘in distress’ locked up in some type of institution if it keeps the rest of us from being threatened or attacked with a weapon while going about our daily business. Why should one person with a screwed up life turn into two people with screwed up lives?

Rd June 15, 2022 (10:37 pm)

Because of what the employee did. Maybe they had not been trained properly on how to handle this sort of situation. You report it to management who gets a hold of the police. NEVER NEVER confront a shoplifter. Nothing is worth you even getting hurt over. Not saying Ryan was right in what he did. Read Julene”s comment above.

rico June 13, 2022 (12:39 pm)

There is no need to steal food in Seattle. There are numerous entities providing free food in the Pioneer Square area. Hunger in this city is no excuse for theft.

Pessoa June 13, 2022 (9:10 pm)

We have to stop thinking that an ever-expanding mental health, gargantuan “industrial complex” is gong to solve all of our problems – it won’t. It will simply provide more jobs for a mental healthcare system that has pretensions of being a rigorous, scientific discipline when in reality, it is in the business of rote cataloging of “abnormal” behaviors, assigning a name to these behaviors and thoughts, with treatment modalities that are usually ineffective. There may be some value in treating symptoms, such as preventing injury to oneself or others, but lets not pretend we are treating some – phantom – disease. Almost all mental illness arises during the problematic transition from adolescence to adulthood and it is not a suprise that mental illness usually rears its ugly head in the late teens. Why is is so problematic for some and less so for others? I don’t think anyone knows, even after breaking down possible contributing factors – there certainly isn’t any organic cause that scientists can identify. In the end, it may be as cruelly unexplainable and capricious as life itself.

EtherialBliss June 17, 2022 (12:58 am)

Well said @PESSOA!! When “governments” get involved, EVERYTHING MUST conform to a highly regimented and regulated equation. IF we look at “governments” (“gubernare” = to govern and “mente” – singular of mēns = the mind) I am sure that this is not “new” news to anyone here…I wholeheartedly agree with pretty much everything that you have stated. I might add, that our ~~AHEM!!~~ “government” (mind controllers, and/or, as the “kids” like to say: “brain-washers”) become a big, big, VERY BIG, like B-I-G “BIG” “Hammers”. As the proverbial phrase; “If your only tool is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail” (or something to that effect)… Yet it explains PERFECTLY as to how “our” “government” now looks and acts. It does not matter if one is a “chandelier”, a “metal cup”, a “glass window”… the “government” is ALWAYS going to look at EVERYONE as a freaking “NAIL”!!! There is no room for ANYthing that can’t be driven-down, by the hammer (nails!!). No “outliers” allowed. Period!! This “Global Government” thing…!!! People do NOT realize that not only their “country” (place of birth) but their CULTURE as well, will ALL be looked at, via the same “angle”; that of a HAMMER!! “People” think that “Global Government” means “Everyone is “equal”… well yeah! They WILL be! But that “culture” of yours? Yeah… better be able to be “driven-down” or it will be SMASHED!!! This is EXACTLY the same on the “micro” (individual) levels as well. The “Macro” WILL become the “Micro” level, as well (as bad?!?)… We NEED to start looking back, back toward the “local communities” taking care of situations like this and it TOTALLY starts at the “Family” level. So much so, that it effects the one looking back at itself, in the mirror. EACH being unique, individually DIFFERENT “people” from the next that looks into the same mirror… Anyway, thought what y’all said is spot-on!! Time for “Big-Daddy-Government” to go Bye-Bye! And start looking at these “cases” on an individual, community-driven basis, instead of a “One-Size-Fits-All” equation. Well said!!

ltfd June 15, 2022 (9:54 am)

Robbery (stealing with threat of, or actual violence) deserves jail time.

Rd June 15, 2022 (10:39 pm)

No he NEEDS HELP!!!
EtherialBliss July 1, 2022 (9:53 am)

Coming back again… late to the “party” but have you EVER thought that: “We don’t Invest in People, We Invest in PUNISHMENT!!!”Wrap your head around THAT one…!!!DOUBLE the people per capita in jail, HERE, in “America” than in Communist China… Something wonky about THAT equation!! Until this “system” is changed with TOTAL transparency, it’s ONLY going to get worse!!!Need TOTAL transparency and PROOF of a “victim” (which constitutes a “Crime”, by the way. A “Perpetrator”(someone who created the “Crime”) and a “Victim”. THAT is the definition of a “Crime”)… What are “WE” going to do to REMEDY this broken system that we have??? Time for “Solution-Think”. I say give it BACK to the community and take it away from this broken system… STRIP it down to “Common Law” and “Natural Law” and work our way back from THERE!!! That’s “my” ideal, at least a start!!!Cheers!! : ) -EB