Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Police Might Not Seek Charges Against Black Friday Pepper Sprayer

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Police might not seek any charges against a woman who pepper-sprayed Black Friday crowds at a Walmart, bought an Xbox and left the store.

The initial reports, which topped national lists of disturbing Black Friday insanity, suggested that the woman was a "competitive shopper" who sprayed other customers at the Porter Ranch Walmart in order to gain an advantage.

But now that the woman — described as a 30-something Latina — has turned herself in, police are not saying whether or not they plan to press any charges. Investigators are not discussing her motives in pepper-spraying a crowd of 20 people, but they haven't booked her or released her name.

Both the Los Angeles Times and New York Daily News speculate that if the woman felt threatened, the police may decide that she was justified in using her pepper spray and won't press charges against her. For right now, the police are keeping mum about how they plan to move forward.

"We have a ton of witnesses and victims to interview," said Los Angeles Police Officer Bruce Borihanh. "We know who she is."

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today