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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Woman arrested for shoplifting from Northtown Mall, assaulting employees with pepper spray

Spokane police arrested a woman accused of shoplifting clothing from NorthTown Mall and using pepper spray on employees.

Police received a call reporting a robbery around 6 p.m. Friday from Buckle at NorthTown. The suspect, Vanessa Schultz, 20, reportedly had taken several articles of clothing and pepper sprayed employees to make her escape, according to a Spokane Police Department news release.

Employees were able to identify Schultz’s vehicle, which was stopped by an officer in the area, according to police.

The officer took Schultz into custody and the items that allegedly were stolen were returned to the store. Other people in Schultz’s car were released after an investigation determined they were not directly involved with the crime, according to the release.

Schultz was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery. Schultz has prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance and theft, police said.