I cannot help but read internet comments on news stories. It's a terrible addiction. Rarely do I comment, as I find it unlikely that my comments will lead to meaningful dialogue (no shit, right?). Anyhow, I have followed the tragic events of Mike Brown's death and the aftermath. Today, while reading comments, I notice that Mike Brown's arrest record is being posted in the comments section on multiple websites. It looks something like this:
Michael Brown's rap sheet on casenet:
Description: Burglary - 1st Degree { Felony B RSMo: 569.160 }
Date: 11/02/2013 Code: 1401000
OCN: AJ006207 Arresting Agency: ST ANN PD
Description: Armed Criminal Action { Felony Unclassified RSMo: 571.015 }
Date: 11/02/2013 Code: 3101000
OCN: AJ006207 Arresting Agency: ST ANN PD
Description: Assault 1st Degree - Serious Physical Injury { Felony A RSMo: 565.050 }
Date: 11/02/2013 Code: 1301100
OCN: AJ006207 Arresting Agency: ST ANN PD
Description: Armed Criminal Action { Felony Unclassified RSMo: 571.015 }
Date: 11/02/2013 Code: 3101000
OCN: AJ006207 Arresting Agency: ST ANN PD
I was skeptical and searched the case.net site for Missouri and found the record 13SL-CR12675-01 - ST V MICHAEL R BROWN, from which these charges originated. You can readily find this too, by searching for case number 13SL-CR12675-01. Note that the defendant in this case lives in Troy, MO, which is 47 miles from Ferguson, MO, according to Google Maps. Also note that the defendant was born in 1997, which would make him 17, rather than 18. It's safe to say that these charges are being falsely attributed and the person spreading this is libeling Mike Brown.
You can see additional mentions of these charges at various websites by searching for "OCN: AJ006207" on Google.
I don't claim to know what happened the night that Mike Brown was killed in Ferguson, but libeling him after his death is disgusting. At the very least, these charges need to be called out as being falsely attributed when the appear.
