Is that a real gun?

TexasStooge · #1 Postby **TexasStooge** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 7:47 am

NEILLSVILLE, Wis. (Court TV) — When Joel D. Peterson allegedly tried to stick up a pharmacy he may have been unarmed.

But he did have his fingers.

Peterson, 30, reportedly attempted to rob the drug store with nothing more than his gloved hand and pointed finger. His thumb was extended like the cocked hammer of a pistol, according to police.

Pharmacy co-owner Bill Weiler, 55, believed the hand gesture to be a pistol for a moment but quickly gave the holdup attempt a thumbs down. Peterson reportedly became upset, pushed Weiler, and the two allegedly scuffled their way down a flight of stairs.

During the fracas, Weiler unmasked Peterson and claims to have recognized him as the same person recently accused of forging prescriptions at the pharmacy.

Peterson escaped but was arrested later that night. He was charged with attempted robbery. Since he only used his fingers, an attempted armed robbery charge just wouldn't stick.

He is scheduled to appear in Clark County court on July 8.

Guest · #2 Postby **Guest** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 10:25 am

In my opinion, if you pretend to have a gun, that's just cause to be charged with armed robbery, or in his case, attempted armed robbery.

JCT777 · #3 Postby **JCT777** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 3:20 pm

If the hand he used was attached to his arm, why can't we call it attempted "armed" robbery? :wink:

#4 Postby **streetsoldier** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 5:58 pm

Again, it is my training kicking in...if a suspect points his hand at me in a threatening manner (i.e. as if he's armed), I won't take the off chance that he isn't...but I WILL verbally summon him/her to drop it, or show that he/she is not armed before proceeding to employ my ("deadly physical force") deterrent.

Pi Master · #5 Postby **Pi Master** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 6:18 pm

Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

Guest · #6 Postby **Guest** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 8:48 am

The use of fingers as a gun is not dangerous untill you scream "Bang!".
(Then you can always justify yourself: "I was just cleaning my finger tips when a shot suddenly got off".)

Paolo

blizzard · #7 Postby **blizzard** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:47 am

PaolofromRome wrote:The use of fingers as a gun is not dangerous untill you scream "Bang!".
(Then you can always justify yourself: "I was just cleaning my finger tips when a shot suddenly got off".)

Paolo

too funny Paolo, lol

Is that a real gun?

Is that a real gun?

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