Employees Detain Armed Robbery Suspect; 3 Others Escape: Sheriff

SPANAWAY, WA — Four armed suspects on Tuesday held up a horticulture supply store in the Spanaway area. Three of the suspects escaped, but one was reportedly disarmed by the store's employees and held until law enforcement arrived. Now, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department is asking the community for any information that can help investigators locate the suspects who got away.

The robbery reportedly occurred just after 1 p.m. July 16 at Eden Indoor Garden Hydroponic Supply, located at 14806 Pacific Ave. S., when the four suspects entered the store wearing masks and gloves and assaulted the employees.

While the details are still being sorted, PCSD spokesman Ed Troyer told Patch one of the employees who was either in a backroom or upstairs came into the lobby area, jumped over the counter, and then disarmed and detained one of the suspects. The other three, apparently surprised at the turn of events, fled through the front door and escaped in a gold Ford Explorer with no license plates.

The detained robbery suspect was later arrested by PCSD deputies.

The investigation is ongoing. As more details are released, this post will be updated.

Anyone who can help investigators identify and locate the robbery suspects is asked to contact the Pierce County Sheriff's Department or Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS. Anonymous tips can also be shared using the P3 Tips app.