Checker Tackles Robber, But He Gets Away

A checker at a north Spokane grocery store did what she could to stop a robber Thursday - knocking the man to the floor - but the bandit still got away with the cash, police said.

The incident occurred at Excell Foods, 2104 E. Francis. The female employee told police a man walked into the store about 8:15 p.m. and asked if she could make change for a $50 bill.

She said she could, but the man walked outside before she could give it to him, police said. He came back a few minutes later and said he only needed change for a dollar.

When the cashier opened the register, the robber pushed her aside and started grabbing money out of the till, police said.

Police said the 5-foot-3 woman tackled the bandit, but he crawled to the door and ran away with an undisclosed amount of money.

The checker said the robber was a white man in his 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 pounds. He had brown, collar-length hair and was clean-shaven.

A witness said the bandit was almost hit by a car on Crestline as he fled the store.

, DataTimes