Update: TJ Maxx Provides Video of Chemical Incident to Police

Police say a suspected thief sprayed a mace-like substance in the entryway of TJ Maxx Wednesday afternoon to prevent people from following him as he fled the store, and the incident went unreported for at least 30 minutes.

Now police want to know why. 

Nine people had symptoms similar to those of ingesting a mace or pepper-spray type substance, Oak Park Heights Police Chief Brian DeRosier said. TJ Maxx’s district loss prevention worker “refused to provide any information on the incident including video of the suspect.”

The loss prevention officer allegedly told the investigator that “this has happened at their other stores and they are investigating themselves in the hopes of putting together a large case.”

In response to this incident, TJ Maxx spokesperson Doreen Thompson issued the following statement on Friday afternoon:

"At T.J. Maxx, the safety of our customers and Associates is always a top priority.  It is our longstanding practice to cooperate with law enforcement. We have protocols in place that stores need to follow when certain types of incidents occur and our store followed those protocols before releasing our video surveillance footage. While it took a bit longer than we would have liked, at this time, we have provided the video footage to local police for their investigation. As this is a police matter, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."

Police Chief DeRosier was not immediately available for further comment.

Oak Park Heights police were called to TJ Maxx at about 8:10 p.m. April 17 by a customer who had left the store—and had returned home—but was still feeling “ill” about 30 minutes after the incident.

The woman told police she was now taking herself and daughter to the hospital emergency room. No serious injuries were reported.

“No call was placed by the store employees or manager on duty at the time of the incident,” DeRosier said. 

Officers arrived and there were nine employees and customers who were complaining of affects consistent as a mace or pepper spray type substance.

It is unknown at this time if other customers left the store prior to police arrival due to the time delay in the report.

Investigation showed the substance was sprayed by a theft suspect, DeRosier said. Witnesses said he took a container from his waist, and sprayed it inside the store as he fled.

The store manager on scene told the investigating officer that the information on what was taken and video would be forwarded by their loss prevention on Thursday.

The store was ventilated by firefighters. All employees and customers refused EMS attention, DeRosier said. No residue of the substance was found for testing.

When detectives contacted TJ Maxx to gain further information and possible video, the district loss prevention person refused, allegedly telling police they are doing an internal investigation hoping to put together a larger case.

DeRosier said he is concerned on the lack of action and response by TJ Maxx in this incident.

In an emailed response to an inquiry about the incident, DeRosier wrote:

“As it appears at this time no serious or life threatening injuries resulted from this incident; however for the store to presume this at the time of the incident last night and not seek a professional response from Law Enforcement, Fire/Hazmat, and EMS is not the action to take given the very real possible threats to the public and employees that may have been associated with the incident.

Their prior knowledge of this type of incident at other stores would be even more reason to call for assistance and provide a description at that time.  With this information suspects may have been located and apprehended possibly stopping future incidents.

The lack of cooperation in the investigation and failure to provide information that may also lead to the arrest of a suspect or prevention of further incidents is an unprofessional and irresponsible response by the retailer.

This type of response, or lack of it, may only continue to place the public in further possible harm from another incident, to fulfill what appears to be the retailers hopes of a ‘large case.’”