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April 30, 2009 in City
Bystander helps nab pharmacy robbery suspect
A north Spokane woman with a hankering for candy and Nicorette gum is being credited by Spokane police with stopping an armed robber Wednesday morning.
Good Samaritan Shelley Anderson, 41, was parking her 1999 Crown Victoria about 8:20 a.m. when she saw a young man running from the Rite Aid at the Franklin Park Mall.
Then, she spotted a store clerk chasing after him and “it wasn’t much of a deduction from there. They’d been robbed,” she said.
So she drove after the suspect, staying on the phone with 911 as she tracked him past the North Division Street mall and into an apartment building.
“I said ‘I know which one he went in,’” Anderson said. “I’m sitting right in front of it.”
Police arrested Jeremy M. Mace, 22, and jailed him on a first-degree robbery charge.
He’s accused of threatening an employee with a knife before stealing bottles of methadone.
He made a preliminary appearance Thursday in Spokane County Superior Court and is being held in Spokane County Jail.
Anderson was “instrumental” in Mace’s arrest, said Spokane police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe.
Police can’t arrive at a crime scene instantly, and “it would have been difficult for us track (the robber),” DeRuwe said.
It’s the second time in as many weeks that a quick-thinking Spokane resident has helped nab a crime suspect police say might have otherwise gotten away. In both cases, authorities note that the bystanders exercised appropriate caution, recognized their own limits and let trained officers handle the actual police work.
Last Friday, for example, Frank D. Baxter, 37, was arrested for trying to steal items from the garage of retired Spokane TV news anchor Bob Briley, 85, and his wife, Doris, after a neighbor saw him and called 911.
Ronald Warner, 53, held Baxter at gunpoint outside the home in the 2600 block of Lidgerwood until police arrived.
Police don’t want citizens putting themselves in danger, but officers praised both Warner and Anderson for calling authorities and showing proper restraint.
In Wednesday’s case, Anderson stayed in her car, kept her distance and called 911, DeRuwe said.
“As a street cop, I’m looking at it as ‘it’s great they’re out there helping us,’” DeRuwe said.
Anderson said she was doing what she’s taught her three sons: don’t just stand by, help out.
“I’m not the type to bury my head in the sand,” she said.
Anderson bought her candy and gum later that day, but she went to Wal-Mart.
Meghann M. Cunifff can be reached at (509) 459-5534 or at meghannc@spokesman.com
Moose head smashes through Cadillac driven by boy, 14 
sunkissedcutie on May 01 at 12:18 a.m.
Hurray Shelley Anderson ! A Nice write up with a Nice ending for everyone involved in the Robbery at Rite Aid.. I have become more aware of how big a problem this is after the Robbery of the Albertsons Pharmacy earlier this year… I am glad no one was hurt and I hope that by Shelly Anderson and other citizens like her that these punks will realize they have more to worry about then just people in the pharmacy… That they may think twice the next time they take on another store to rob or a neighbors home.. I applaud the Spokane Police Dept for realizing that citizens can help without getting in the way and acknowledging that… I have seen stories written in the past where law enforcement officials have repramanded citizens for getting involved.. It’s nice to know that Spokane’s Law Enforcement and the citizens of Spokane are able to work together as a team to help get this scum off the streets.. Double Applause to everyone… from a citizen in the Tri-Cities..
Congrats on a Job Well Done!!! :O)
ajlove767 on August 13 at 4:22 p.m.
no on knows these people, do not judge. people who do these things are hurtting so bad. you will never understand what they are going though. the person who followed him home will never know what he went though that day. addition in wa is so high. you just can not send these people to jail they will never get the help they need. the newspaper writes about people doing these things but never writes about the person who they are and there familys or what the person was going though.