Spokane Police arrest man accused of stealing, threatening employees with bear mace

November 7, 2022 4:05 PM

Will Wixey,

Posted: November 7, 2022 4:05 PM

by Will Wixey

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Police arrested a man accused of stealing items from multiple stores and threatening employees with bear mace.

The Spokane Police Department says a suspect entered a sporting goods store in North Spokane on November 4 and loaded thousands of dollars worth of merchandise into a cart. SPD says when he tried to leave the store without paying and was confronted by employees, he took out bear spray and pointed it at them.

Though some employees were able to recover many items from the suspect, he fled the scene.

One day later, an SPD officer noticed the suspect’s car in the parking lot of the Shadle Park Walmart.

Several officers waited outside the store to arrest the suspect, who was later identified as 31-year-old Spencer Media. Video released by SPD shows Media had bear spray in his hand as he was leaving the Walmart with several items.

The video also shows Media attempting to run away to escape the officers, but he was briefly arrested.

Media was booked into Spokane County Jail for first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery, third-degree assault and multiple misdemeanor charges. A woman who was with Media was also booked for first-degree robbery for her involvement.

READ: Murder suspect who fled Spokane in 2019 arrested in Europe