So my character is level 32 and never committed a crime ... or so I thought. I just finished the Siege on the Dragon Cult quest and I noted after killing Valmir that all the camp items laying around still had the STEAL tag on them. Well there was a large healing pot there so I took it since I figured the tag didn't mean anything now anyway.

So a little time after that I check my crime stats and it says I have a 40 gold bounty in Whiterun. Well the Dragon Cult quest is near Riften, so I am not sure how that happened. Anyway I'm Thane there so I figure I'll just walk into town and clear this mess up. So I go through the gates and the first guard there immediately starts to attack me. My weapons are not drawn or anything and he's standing there beating on me with a sword. I can't get him to talk to me so I draw my sword and then put it away. As soon as I put it away he stops hitting me and tries to arrest me. I tell him I'm Thane and he says he'll let it go this time.

Some questions.

Why was the items at Valmir's camp labeled STEAL anyway?

Why a bounty in Whiterun?

Why an attack for just a 40 gold bounty?

Are you sure you didn't get the bounty when you were in Whiterun hold, before coming to Riften for the quest?

I forgot: 40 gold is when you assault someone. If you kill him/her, you get a bounty of 1040 gold, 1000 for the murder plus 40 for the assault.

I never struck anyone that I am aware of. Valmir did attack me along with some Stormcloak soldier when I got out of the dungeon. I am pretty sure both struck first though. Besides if that counted then it would have added the murder also, or it would have added nothing since I killed both and there were no witnesses.

I just can't imagine who I hit in Whiterun without knowing it.