Spokane store worker fights off attacker with broom handle

A female employee at the Main Market Co-Op in downtown Spokane told police earlier this month that a man groped her while she was working, but she was able to fight him off and repeatedly hit him with a broom handle while chasing him from the business.

The suspect in the incident, identified as 27-year-old Jason A. Harbine, was arrested Friday after he was spotted at the store having lunch. He faces a charge of indecent liberties.

The woman told police she was working Dec. 17 when a man approached from behind while she was cleaning out a microwave, according to court documents. She said the man grabbed her and tried to slide his hand down her pants, and when that failed, he groped her and said “Hi sweetheart” in her ear.

The victim told police she elbowed him to break free and grabbed a broom handle, which she used to hit him repeatedly until he ran from the store, court documents state. Another employee reportedly witnessed the assault.

According to court documents, Harbine admitted touching the woman and told police he did it because he was “going through hard times.”