Court Opinion

ID: 9607567
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:59:57.867008+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:33.077189
License: Public Domain

*81Judge Wynn
dissenting.
The issue presented in this case is whether the use of a handgun after defendants took merchandise and ran from a store is sufficient to sustain a charge of armed robbery. I believe that it is not.
The record establishes without question that defendants took the merchandise from the store without ever using force or displaying any kind of dangerous weapon. “In order for an armed robbery to occur, the use of force must be such as to induce the victim to part with the property.” State v. Dalton, 122 N.C. App. 666, 671, 471 S.E.2d 657, 660 (1996) (emphasis added).
The record shows that, after taking the merchandise, Barnes exited the store and got into a car parked at a curb near the store. Similarly, Hooks exited the store and attempted to get in the car. As to both defendants, the property had already been taken at the time they reached the car. In fact, neither defendant had used force until they were confronted at the parked car by store employees who chose to pursue them in an effort to retrieve the property.
The majority correctly notes that “[f]or the purposes of robbery the taking is not over until after the thief succeeds in removing the stolen property from the victim’s possession.” State v. Barnes, 345 N.C. 146, 478 S.E.2d 188, - (1996) (quoting State v. Sumpter, 318 N.C. 102, 111, 347 S.E.2d 396, 401 (1986). However, the majority views the employees’ actions as an attempt to retain possession of the property, while the facts indicate that the defendants had possession of the merchandise and the employees were in pursuit to attempt to retrieve the property. Since the property was already in the possession of the fleeing defendants, the taking was completed before store employees gave chase and force was employed. I know of no law in this state that holds that pursuit can defeat a completed taking.
Therefore, since force was not used to induce the victim to part with the property and the taking of that property was completed at the time force was used, defendants’ actiqns in the instant case are insufficient to constitute robbery with a dangerous weapon. See State v. Hope, 317 N.C. 302, 345 S.E.2d 361 (1986); Dalton, 122 N.C. App. 666, 471 S.E.2d 657. Accordingly, I dissent.