Bear spray forces evacuation at grocery store in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – Kamloops RCMP are hoping the public can help them track down a suspect after customers at the Safeway on the North Shore were bear sprayed last night.

Police say they were called at about 8 p.m., May 13, to a “noxious substance incident” at the Safeway on Fortune Drive in Kamloops.

A man had sprayed bear spray inside the grocery store forcing staff to evacuate as people were coughing and had difficulty breathing, according to a RCMP media release. No one was seriously hurt.

The suspect got away.

Kamloops firefighters used fans to clear the air and the store reopened.

Police are urging anyone with information about the bear spray incident to call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.

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