Shoplifting Becomes A Felony Crime After Store Employee Assaulted

Shoplifting Incident Becomes A Felony Crime After Store Employee Is Assaulted

Ofc. T. Leming, PIO

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 4:54 p.m.

On February 16, 2026 at 1:20 p.m. Spokane Police Officers responded to Northtown Mall after an employee called to report a male stole merchandise and assaulted her when confronted. When officers arrived, they contacted the employee and a security guard employed by Northtown Mall. Officers learned a male, later identified as Devin Smith (30), had entered the location with another male. While in the store, Smith obtained a bottle of perfume/cologne, valued at just over $100.00 and walked out of the store without paying for the item.

The store employee called mall security for assistance, and both confronted the two males as they exited the mall. Smith handed the stolen merchandise to the unidentified male, who ran off. As he was confronted, Smith assaulted the employee by striking her in the face. Smith was eventually detained and escorted back to the security office. The employee had minor injuries from the encounter.

Due to the physical assault of the employee while in the commission of a theft, responding officers developed probable cause to arrest Devin Smith (30) for 1st Degree Robbery. Smith was taken into custody on the Robbery charge and was booked into the Spokane County Jail.

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