Teens face felony charges in botched beer theft

An attempted beer theft by three 17-year-old boys Wednesday turned into a chase that landed them in the Spokane County Jail on felony robbery charges, police say.
After running past a woman trying to lock the doors at the Fred Meyer at Sprague Avenue and Sullivan Road about 11 p.m., the teens headed for the beer aisle and grabbed a couple of cases. One hit the woman in the chest as they ran out the door, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department.
Police arrived to find an employee chasing the suspects near Sprague and Progress. Makia K. Lund …

An attempted beer theft by three 17-year-old boys Wednesday turned into a chase that landed them in the Spokane County Jail on felony robbery charges, police say.

After running past a woman trying to lock the doors at the Fred Meyer at Sprague Avenue and Sullivan Road about 11 p.m., the teens headed for the beer aisle and grabbed a couple of cases. One hit the woman in the chest as they ran out the door, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department.

Police arrived to find an employee chasing the suspects near Sprague and Progress. Makia K. Lund complied with officers and was arrested, but Albert J. Reeves III of Veradale kicked another officer while boasting that “he was the member of a gang that owned Spokane,” according to a news release. Officers arrested Reeves and the third suspect, Andrew J. Price, who they say was lying in the snow encouraging Reeves to fight the officers.

“We’re seeing more and more of this,” said police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.“Instead of just dropping the beer and running, they throw the beer at the car, they hit the clerk, they try to run down an employee with their car, and that makes it a robbery, a felony.”

The three face felony charges of first-degree robbery and were booked into the Spokane County Jail. Reeves was also arrested on a third-degree assault charge, and Price was arrested on charges of obstructing police.