Shoplifter attacks Hillyard Grocery employee with wine bottle

A woman allegedly attacked a grocery store employee in Hillyard on Thursday evening after stealing a bottle of cheap rosé wine. Surveillance footage shows the woman pacing around Hillyard Grocery, located at 5803 N. Market Street, for several minutes before grabbing a bottle and hiding it under her clothes. Employee Jason Hill said he confronted the woman as she walked out the door, but she spun around smashing the bottle against his head. The woman, later identified by Spokane Police officers as Makayla M. Keeney, 29, grabbed pieces of the broken glass and chased employees around the parking lot, he said. Hill threw her to the ground, grabbing her by the hair because he “didn’t want to hit a woman,” he said. Another man, James Kemple, ran across Central Avenue to help - tackling her as well. But she kicked him in the face, Kemple said. Kemple said he held her down for several minutes - telling her to stop moving when she squirmed. Police arrived and arrested Keeney for first-degree robbery. Hill said this is the first injury on the job during his eight years at the grocery. He stocks supplies and acts as security. Most beer thieves don’t get by him, he said. Despite the cut on his head, Hill returned to work after cleaning up the broken glass. “Gotta keep working - gotta get food for the kids,” he added.