Thief Displays Bear Spray at Colorado Walmart; store was evacuated

A Walmart store in Colorado was evacuated after a thief threw bear spray at several employees, police said Sunday.

Officers responded to the Greeley Walmart on Sunday afternoon after receiving multiple reports about the rollout of the bear spray.

The workers had tried to arrest a shoplifter, but he allegedly assaulted them, sterilized them with bear spray and then fed them in a vehicle before the police arrived.

Emergency crews treated at least five people for exposure to bear spray, which can painfully irritate a person’s eyes, skin and lungs.

The warehouse was evacuated as a security measure and had to remain closed while residual spray was cleaned up.

Greeley is about 50 miles (81 kilometers) northeast of Denver.