Las Vegas police have nabbed a man they say sprayed bear deterrents in five different valley businesses to force evacuations before robbing them, according to police documents.
Christian Phillips, 27, stands accused of a series of at least five robberies dubbed "Spray and Prey" in the Las Vegas valley, occurring between August 28 and September 30, as detailed in an arrest report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
The spree began on August 28 at approximately 6:40 p.m. when a man, wearing a mask and carrying a bag, entered a boba restaurant near Flamingo and Fort Apache roads. He requested access to the restroom from the employees, and after a brief period, both workers began to struggle with breathing due to an "airborne irritant." They exited the establishment, gasping for air, and called 911. Surveillance footage revealed the man donning a gas mask and deploying the irritant. Once the workers left, he snatched the cash register, making off with an estimated $200 in cash.
On August 29 around 3 a.m., the man entered a taco shop near Warm Springs Road and Durango Drive. He asked an employee for restroom access and was given a key. Soon after, employees heard spraying noises from the restroom, which caused uncontrollable coughing. Attempting to communicate with the man inside the restroom yielded no response. The employees evacuated for fresh air, and upon exiting, witnessed the man emerging from the bathroom, now equipped with a gas mask and gloves and carrying a large aerosol canister. He proceeded to destroy the cash register, making off with approximately $350 in cash.
The pattern continued on September 28 at about 2 p.m. when the man entered a sandwich shop near Flamingo Road and El Capitan Way. He followed the same script by requesting restroom access, then initiated a disturbance by spraying something in the bathroom. Confronted by an employee, he turned the spray toward them, forcing the entire store to evacuate. From outside, the employees observed the man discarding the spray, seizing the cash drawer, and escaping through the backdoor. The stolen sum was estimated at $60, and this series of robberies earned the moniker "Spray and Prey."
Around 1:30 p.m. on September 28, the man entered a coffee shop near West Charleston Boulevard and Pavilion Center Drive, again asking for a restroom key. While in the restroom, an employee heard aerosol spray. The man exited the bathroom, still discharging the can, prompting the evacuation of the establishment. He made off with around $500 from the cash register.
Finally, on September 30 at around 1 a.m., the man entered a restaurant near West Sahara Avenue and South Buffalo Drive. As usual, he requested a restroom key and, minutes later, emerged wearing a gas mask while dispersing aerosol pepper spray throughout the eatery. He pilfered the cash drawer, which held about $300, and discarded a bat during the robbery.
Police eventually tracked down a vehicle resembling one seen at the crime scenes, leading them to Phillips, who matched the suspect's description. On October 1, they arrested Phillips at his residence. A subsequent search of his home uncovered clothing matching surveillance footage, coffee shop coupons, a Frontiersman bear attack deterrent spray bottle, and a restroom key.
Phillips now faces 11 counts of robbery and five counts of burglary of a business. He is currently held on a $75,000 bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 18. If released on bail, he will be subject to high-level electronic monitoring, required to stay out of trouble, and prohibited from approaching the businesses he targeted.
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