Port Alberni’s Walmart closed early last night after bear spray was set off inside the store
Police say a Caucasian male was caught shoplifting, and when confronted by staff at the front exit, he hit them with pepper spray, which then went through the entire front area of the store.
Janis Joseph had just stopped in for a couple of small items around 6:40 last night when everyone in the check out area started coughing
She said staff were very calm and helpful as customers were moved towards the back of the store, but the cloud of pepper spray was everywhere.
Police said two staff members and two bystanders bore the brunt of the attack and were taken to hospital as a result
The incident is an active investigation, and police will review the security camera footage as part of their search for the culprit.