Both were subsequently charged with theft by shoplifting, a misdemeanor. Carmichael, on the other hand, did not escape so cheaply. He initially was charged with unlawful discharge of a gun and using a handgun to commit a felony. He chose to close up rather than pay a fine. So I closed the doors.
Nobody seems to care what the criminals are doing.
Totzke argued that, when he followed the teens outside, Carmichael was no longer protecting his property but willingly placed himself in a dangerous situation he could have easily avoided. He should have stayed inside and immediately called the police. That sounds good in theory, Carmichael said. But in the past, police response time has frequently been slow, even though his liquor store is just two blocks from the Police Department. And if they do catch them, nothing comes of it.