Suspects Assault Store Employee, Later Arrested for Robbery
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies located two suspects who attempted to steal nearly $200 worth of merchandise from Safeway on Francis. When confronted by an employee as they began to leave the store without paying, the suspects became violent and assaulted the employee before fleeing on foot. Deputies located the suspects a short distance away, and both were arrested, charged with Robbery 1st Degree. The store employee received minor injuries during the incident.
On August 25, 2021, at approximately 11:15 pm, Spokane County Deputy Horton was waved down by a Safeway employee in the 900 block of W. Francis.
The employee explained he was just assaulted by a male and female trying to steal shopping baskets full of merchandise. He provided a description of the male and female to Deputy Horton, which she put out over the radio, requesting additional Deputies to search the area for the suspects.
Deputy Horton continued to interview the employee, noting he had a minor and bleeding laceration on his hand and several store items scattered across the pavement in front of the store.
The employee, wearing an easily identifiable store uniform, said he was walking back into the store when he noticed the suspects walking toward the exit doors carrying baskets full of items they hadn’t purchase. He confronted the duo and asked what they were doing. Suddenly, the female lowered her shoulder and shoved him in the stomach. The male suspect also pushed the employee and began trying to hit the victim with his elbows. During the assault, the male suspect struck the victim with a gallon milk jug. He warned the victim that he would stab the employee if he came at the suspects again however, the suspect never displayed a knife.
While Deputy Horton spoke with the victim, Sergeant Hilton advised he located a male and female matching the suspects’ description near Monroe St. and W. Rosewood. The suspects were safely detained and identified as 24-year-old Jacob M. Kirl and 25-year-old Janay N. Solomon.
The merchandise the suspects attempted to steal totaled over $194.
The victim to where the suspects were detained and positively identified Kirl and Solomon as the suspects.
Kirl and Solomon initially denied trying to steal from the store and blamed the victim for starting the altercation. After being advised the store security footage had been reviewed, they both admitted to some level of attempting to steal merchandise and fighting with the victim when he tried to stop them.
At the completion of the investigation, Kirl and Solomon were transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Robbery 1st Degree.