By James Peters

Downtown Kamloops vape shop employee slugs robbery suspect to protect customer

Apr 5, 2018 | 9:49 AM

KAMLOOPS — A robbery suspect is in police custody and may be sporting a shiner to boot.

Kamloops RCMP say a man walked into Vape Sense on Fourth Avenue Wednesday night at about 7:00, with his face covered and brandishing a knife.

The suspect is alleged to have made an aggressive move toward a customer inside the store, and when he did that, an employee slugged him.

Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says that’s not always the recommended course of action.

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“We always recommend to employees, if they’re being robbed or threatened with violence, to do what the suspect demands,” said Shelkie. “In this case, the suspect was making movements toward a customer, so the employee felt he should step in to help. That’s a personal choice somebody has to make.”

Police say the suspect took off, but officers arrested him not far from the store and without incident.

Shelkie says the 37 year old suspect is well known to police and will be appearing before a judge today.