Business owner forgives man who broke into her store: ‘This is what you needed’

1 hour ago

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Staff,

BALTIMORE (WMAR) – A business owner in Baltimore was the victim of a robbery that was captured on security video last fall.

A business owner chose compassion over conviction for the young man who broke into her store. (WMAR, DIGI SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, CNN)

Police did end up catching and arresting a suspect, but the owner then fought to keep the young man out of jail.

Tia Hamilton is the owner of DiGi Business Center on Greenmount Avenue. She said that after police arrested the suspect who broke into her store, she didn’t want to see him go to jail.

“I’m an adult that has not forgotten about what we were like when we were that age, right? And I also understand that when children are doing things wrong, they are asking for help in other ways,” Hamilton said.

So when the suspect had his day in court, Hamilton came up with a plan to keep him out of jail.

Assistant State’s Attorney Juan Issac De La Cruz said his office does not see this type of decision, but it could change the suspect’s life.

“A juncture in his life where he could either go down one of several paths, to have Ms. Tia be so ready and capable to take him under her wing is an amazing opportunity for him, to not only make right with the damage that he has done to that particular business, but also to the surrounding community,” De La Cruz said.

Hamilton said when she learned more about the suspect’s life, she couldn’t turn away from someone she believes is simply in need of guidance.

“We got to stop judging and find out why and provide the solutions,” Hamilton said.

So she pleaded with the judge to release the young man to complete the 360 hours of community service he was sentenced to. After that, Hamilton said she simply hugged him.

“The courtroom broke down. People in the courtroom, the judge, the bailiff, everybody was like, ‘Wow, you’re the victim,’” Hamilton remembered. “It doesn’t matter, but that baby hugged me so tight and I said, ‘This is what you needed.’”

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said this type of reform is what his office supports. He said it is not about locking people up, but instead about accountability.

“We, as an office, come across those rare opportunities. Our job isn’t about a record. Our job is about how can we help make the community better,” Bates said. “Giving this young man a record wasn’t going to do that. What makes the community better is allowing him to be with a person to give him the love, to give him the support, to give him the guidance that he needs so that he can be a better member of society.”

Hamilton said she is holding more than the youth accountable, but adults as well.

“If you have a community and you worry about teenage rapid uptick in crime, organize your community,” Hamilton said.

The state’s attorney’s office said the suspect will be able to get the incident expunged from his record if he completes the community service hours within eight months.

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