Robbery suspect arrested trying to steal lottery tickets in Spokane Valley
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — A man was arrested for robbery after attempting to take lottery tickets from a convenience store in Spokane Valley.
Deputies from the Spokane Valley Police Department responded to a robbery call near Sprague Avenue and University Road on July 28. When a store employee, who was later determined as the victim, was doing his normal job duties away from the cash register, they said they noticed someone kneeling behind the counter trying to steal lottery tickets.
The employee confronted 38-year-old Jason K. Watters, and Watters was trying to get away. A physical altercation took place between the store employee and Watters. The victim suffered minor injuries.
A witness in the parking lot pointed out the suspect’s vehicle, which was a white PT cruiser.
Deputies found the vehicle near North Glenn Road and East Springfield Road and detained a woman driving the car without incident. When being questioned by authorities, 60-year-old Lori J. Kehrer said she was at the store but did not know anything about the robbery. Kehrer said she saw the two men fighting, saying Watters got into her car and told her to drive, dropping off Watters in the parking lot across from the store.
Deputies developed probable cause to arrest Kehrer for robbery and was booked into the Spokane County Jail. Her vehicle was also seized pending a search warrant.
After looking at the store’s video, however, when Kehrer drove into the parking lot, Watters exited the vehicle and entered the store while Kehrer pulled around to the back of the building. Video shows that Watters appeared to place an eight-pack of Fireball under his shirt and left without paying. He went back into the store after a customer gave him a dollar and went back behind the counter and started to take lottery tickets. The whiskey and an empty pack of cigarettes fell onto the ground when the store employee tried to stop him.
The Spokane Valley Investigative Unit later found a bag containing what is believed to be methamphetamine and a used glass pipe. They found it when searching the vehicle after obtaining a search warrant. They also found a small unopened bottle of Fireball along with other things.
On August 1, a deputy found a male that matched the description of Watters, contacting him near North Willow and East Sprague. He was detained and denied knowing anything about the incident. He later admitted to trying to steal from the store, but did not intend to get into a fight with the store employee.
Watters was taken to the Spokane County Jail and booked for robbery.
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