According to a Petaluma Police Department report, 20-year-olds Casey Canion and Keiarra Spencer were arrested yesterday, for attempting to flee Sunglass Hut with more than $18,000 worth of stolen merchandise. Their ambitions were foiled by the actions of two community members who actively intervened in the crime.
Upon receiving a report at 12:33 PM, Petaluma Police officers promptly arrived at Sunglass Hut in the Petaluma Outlets. The reporting party had informed dispatch that Canion and Spencer had gathered the merchandise and attempted to leave the store without paying. As they tried to escape, a security guard tried to stop them, but the suspects managed to push through a door and continued fleeing.
Police officers arrived on the scene to find Canion and Spencer detained by a father and his adult son. While fleeing the store, the pair were spotted by these two observant citizens who realized that a crime had taken place and stepped in to apprehend the suspects. Canion and Spencer had tried to struggle free; in a desperate attempt to elude capture, Canion assaulted one of the citizens with pepper spray. Undeterred, the citizen continued to wrestle Canion to the ground and held her until the police arrived.
The Petaluma Police Department arrested Canion and Spencer without further incident before transporting them to the Sonoma County Jail. Both suspects face charges of Felony Robbery and Felony Conspiracy to commit Robbery, while Canion faces an additional charge of Felony Illegal Use of a Tear Gas Weapon. Thankfully, the pepper-sprayed citizen suffered only minor injuries and received medical treatment from medics at the scene.
Although the Petaluma Police Department advises citizens to be good witnesses and refrain from getting physically involved, they also expressed their gratitude to the father and son for their brave intervention.
