By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A pizza delivery man thwarted an apparent attempted robbery today in Centralia in which the assailant pulled out a can of bear spray.
It happened around 2 p.m. as the 44-year-old driver from Sahara Pizza was approaching the 100 block of Gleason Road where he was headed to make a delivery, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A male stepped out onto the roadway and the driver slowed to speak with the man, who said something to the effect of, “Sorry, I have to do this,” according to the sheriff’s office.
The driver knocked the can out of the individual’s hand, followed him when he ran off, and then chased a smaller blue car he got into up to the other end of town, according to the sheriff’s office.
The car was last seen headed the wrong way on Sprague Street, a one way road, according to Chief Deputy Stacy Brown.
The victim did get sprayed in the face a little bit, but didn’t require medical attention, Brown said.
He drove to the Centralia Police Department to report what happened, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Frontiersman Bear Attack Deterrent Spray used is advertised as being protection in the wilderness with a range of up to 35 feet away.
Deputies who responded to the call at 2:09 p.m. are looking for an older, smaller, blue vehicle. The suspect was described by the victim as about 5-foot 6-inches tall, with a thin build and wearing a dark sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Brown said the suspect was wearing sunglasses and the victim couldn’t tell how old he was, but said he was white.
“It happened pretty fast, he looked up and he was right there,” Brown said.
The pizza order came from a man who called himself Anthony Kramer.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who has any information on the suspect, to call them at 360-748-9286 or Lewis County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-748-6422.