The Smoking Gun web site has obtained a copy of a police report in which Pearlie Gordon (the mother-in-law of Mike Brown’s father), claims that on October 18 she was attacked, beaten, and robbed by Lesley McSpadden (Mike Brown’s biological mother), Desureia Harris (Mike Brown’s biological grandmother), and an assortment of 20-30 others, some of whom are apparently related in some fashion or another to the deceased Mike Brown.
On the basis of this report, embedded below, McSpadden potentially faces felony armed robbery charges.
Mike Brown, of course, is the 290-pound man who died this past August in what the evidence overwhelmingly suggests was an ill-conceived and poorly executed effort to attack and kill Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. Despite injuries suffered early in the fight, Wilson was able to effectively deploy his sidearm and persuade Brown to cease his aggression.
The shooting led to days of rioting. [See Featured Image.]
A successful self-defense defense to the shooting would become the claimed justification for days of rioting, looting and arson, followed by weeks of angry and violent protests. Many small businesses in #Ferguson remain boarded up shells, with little prospect for returning any time soon.
The police report succinctly captures the apparent genesis of the October 18 attack on yet another small business in #Ferguson, the street-side kiosk of Ms. Gordon.
Gordon stated she was selling Justice for Mike Brown” merchandise with [two helpers] on the above parking lot when a large grup of about 20-30 subjects “jumped out of vehicles and rushed them.” Gordon said Lesley (or Lezley) McSpadden approached her tent and said “you cant [sic] sell this shit [sic].” Gordan [sic] told McSpadden she was Michael Brown Sr.’s mother in law [sic] and unless McSpadden could produce documentation stating she had a patent on her son’s name she (Gordon) was going to continue to sell her merchandise.
And so the battle lines were drawn, albeit with Gordon at an imprudent 10:1 handicap.
First to strike was purportedly Michael Brown’s biological grandmother, Desureia [sic] Harris, who told Gordon “you don’t know my grandson like that. I’m gonna tear this shit [sic] down,” which Harris allegedly proceeded to do without further delay.
Gordon states that she was then set upon by the horde, receiving repeated blows about the head and shoulders. Gordon specifically reported being struck by McSpadden, as well as other named suspects.
By the time the dust had settled and police and EMS were rolling up, Gordon was reporting that more than $1,500 in merchandise and $400 in cash had been stolen by unknown members of the attacking mob. At least one of Gordon’s helpers was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained in the attack.
Gordon and her remaining ambulatory helper came to the Ferguson Police Department to complete witness statements, and they identified by name the mother-daughter tag team of McSpadden and Harris, as well as McSpadden’s boyfriend and several Ewings.
The police report, embedded below, is now in the hands of Ferguson PD detectives for further investigation.
–-Andrew, @LawSelfDefense
Andrew F. Branca is an MA lawyer and the author of the seminal book “The Law of Self Defense, 2nd Edition,” available at the Law of Self Defense blog (autographed copies available) and Amazon.com (paperback and Kindle). He also holds Law of Self Defense Seminars around the country, and provides free online self-defense law video lectures at the Law of Self Defense Institute and podcasts through iTunes, Stitcher, and elsewhere.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY