Owner of Johnnie Brock’s Warehouse speaks out after bear mace sprayed at store

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - An 18-year-old suspect sprayed bear mace outside Johnnie Brock’s Warehouse in south St. Louis on Monday afternoon, affecting people inside the store during the Halloween shopping season.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police said three people were affected by the spray and one person was taken to a hospital. Police said they are working to get the suspect into custody. She has not been charged.

How it unfolded

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) said the incident started when the suspect got into an argument with two unknown customers.

SLMPD said during the argument, the 18-year-old got the bear spray from a car and sprayed it. The owner, Edwin Brock, told First Alert 4 that the suspect sprayed the substance just outside the store.

Brock said he was standing to the side of the warehouse gate when the suspect sprayed the bear mace directly into his eyes. Brock said the mace hit products at the front of the store the fumes drifted inside.

“Somebody getting close to my building and spraying people with bear spray? That’s like, ‘what?” Brock said.

Brock said the incident involved one of his employees, who does not work at the store anymore. He said something like this has never happened before at Johnnie Brock’s.

“One of my employees was involved in this confrontation and she was the one that sprayed the spray,” Brock said.

“I’m not a bear, but this is some nasty stuff,” Brock said. “It was terrible. I sat down and I could not open my eyes.”

Customers inside the store

One parent told First Alert 4 that she and her children were inside the store when their eyes and throats became irritated.

Another parent said that she and her three kids were shopping for Halloween costumes in the store when they had trouble breathing. Two of her kids threw up and she said she left the store without getting their costumes.

Brock said some customers stayed to finish shopping.

“It was amazing how many people were just coughing a little and then they’re shopping. You know, like they didn’t, they refused to leave,” Brock said.

Investigation and store operations

Brock said surveillance cameras captured the incident. He said he turned the footage over to St. Louis Metropolitan police.

The suspect, an 18-year-old girl, disappeared after the incident and police say they are working to get her into custody. Police say the suspect has not been charged yet.

“This is my livelihood. It’s my blood, sweat, and tears. And when something doesn’t go right, you know, it’s very upsetting,” Brock said.

The store closed early Monday. Brock said the store has since removed all contaminated products. Johnnie Brock’s is back to normal operating hours.