Police arrest suspect in coffee shop armed robbery

A man wanted for spraying a barista with pepper spray last month before fleeing with her car was arrested Tuesday. Police say Andrew W. Carr, 27, robbed the Hot Toddy’s Coffee Shop at West Francis Avenue and North Atlantic Street before 6 a.m. on June 10. The victim said Carr jumped in the window of the coffee stand after ordering a latte, demanding money and threatening her with a knife, according to an affidavit. When the victim refused and tried to fight back, he sprayed her with pepper spray, took her car keys and fled. The barista was not injured and her car was found a few blocks away. Carr was identified by a Department of Corrections employee who saw surveillance photos released to media outlets. Carr had lived with the man before. Carr faces charges of first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and third-degree assault. Superior Court Judge James Triplet set Carr’s bail at $75,000 this afternoon, based on his flight risk. Triplet said Carr had fled to the west side of the state after the incident. Carr’s record contains one previous felony charge stemming from a robbery ten years ago in north Spokane. The case against Carr in that incident was dismissed.