By Pete McIntyre

Store employee injured in confrontation

Jun 25, 2019 | 3:37 PM

An employee of Vernon’s Walmart was injured after confronting a potential shoplifter.

Police say the female loss prevention officer (LPO) had an incident with a man trying to leave the store on 58th Avenue around 9 p.m. Monday.

“A male attempted to shoplift from the store and when confronted by the LPO, the suspect allegedly threatened her with bear spray and fled the area in a vehicle,” RCMP Const. Kelly Brett said.

Mounties say the employee suffered minor injuries trying to defend herself, but the bear spray was not used by the suspect.

A suspect was taken into custody later that night, with 30-year-old Keith Kendall from Vernon facing charges of attempted robbery, possession of stolen property and failing to comply with a probation order.

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“Despite being assaulted, the LPO was able to gather the information officers needed to further their investigation and apprehend the suspect later that evening,” Brett said. “It’s fortunate that no other innocent bystanders were hurt during the altercation and that bear spray wasn’t deployed within the busy department store.”

Kendall appeared in provincial court Tuesday and has been remanded in custody until a bail hearing on July 3.

by Pete McIntyre

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