Walgreens robber hits store manager with bear spray

A robbery suspect who police say used bear spray against a Walgreens store manager as he fled a West Central location with a cartful electronics was arrested over the weekend with his would-be getaway driver. Aaron Blaine, 35, entered the Wallgreens at 1708 W. Northwest Blvd. just before 11 p.m. Saturday and ripped electronics fastened to a display into a shopping cart, according to investigators. As he attempted to flee the store, Blaine was confronted by a manager. Blaine sprayed the manager with bear spray before jumping into a van driven by 40-year-old Tim Gilfoy, according to witnesses. Police found the van about a quarter mile away, and Blaine fled the vehicle on foot, according to court documents. Investigators questioned Gilfoy, who told police he was Blaine’s getaway man. Police found a gray shopping basket marked with the store’s logo on the floor of the van, and Blaine had a can of bear spray in his possession when detained by police. Both men appeared Monday in Spokane County Superior Court on charges of first-degree armed robbery. Judge Salvatore Cozza set bond for each at $20,000.