Father and daughter arrested after allegedly shoplifting, using bear mace on employee

A father and daughter duo were arrested after allegedly shoplifting multiple items valued at over $1,600 from a retail store and using a bear mace on a loss prevention officer.

According to Olympia police, Troy Admiral Humphrey, 57, of Tacoma, and his daughter Tayja Irene Humphrey, 29, of Lakewood, were arrested last Wed., Dec. 1, after a reported disturbance at the Macy’s department store in Capitol Mall involving bear mace, a potent chemical irritant.

A Macy’s loss prevention officer told police that he noticed a man in the men’s activewear section kneeling between the racks and stuffing several pieces of clothing, which still had security tags on, into a shopping bag.

The employee said he asked the man, later identified as Troy, to hand over the items, but the suspect claimed that the clothes were his and that they simply spilled out of his bag, adding: “Back off! You can’t touch me.”

The employee said he pulled the bag away from Troy, causing the clothes to spill onto the floor and leading to a physical altercation between the two.

When the loss prevention officer managed to back away, he said, Troy took a fighting stance and threatened to “kick his ass.”

The employee said two women “aggressively” stepped in between him and Troy, yelling that they would spray him if he touched or attempted to detain them. One woman was later named as Tayja while the other was not identified in the police report.

Troy then picked up the items off the floor and exited the store along with the two women without paying for goods, according to the loss prevention officer.

The employee said he followed the three out onto the parking and saw Troy and Tayja enter a white vehicle.

As he was taking photos of the suspects’ car, the loss prevention officer said, Troy and the unknown woman returned to spray bear mace at him and into the air. He did not suffer injuries.

The employee said he saw Troy enter the passenger seat of the white vehicle, while the unknown woman got into a small blue SUV and drove away.

An officer arrived on the parking lot just as the Humphreys were walking toward their vehicle, according to the police report. However, the two suspects continued to drive off even after the officer announced “police.”

Authorities said the Humphreys did not stop driving despite being followed by police vehicles whose emergency lights and sirens were activated.

The suspects also continued driving after a minor collision with another vehicle at an intersection.

Olympia police continued their pursuit of the Humphreys but yielded to Sheriff’s deputies when the chase reached the county line.

The suspects came to a stop along Mounts Road, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. The Humphreys were taken into custody without further incident.

Troy told Olympia police that he was planning to pay for the items in his bag, but a security guard confronted him thinking that he was going to steal the items. Troy also claimed that the security guard grabbed him from behind and threw him to the ground.

Asked about the bear mace, Troy told police that it was the security guard who had the spray, but he kept it for evidence because he was planning to call authorities. He also denied spraying the loss prevention officer.

Troy added that he and his daughter did not stop for police because they were scared that law enforcement would do something to them.

Tayja, meanwhile, told Olympia police she saw the security guard on top of her dad while hitting him. She also said she wanted to stop the car during the chase, but her father told her not to stop for police.

In a later search of the Humphreys’ vehicle, Olympia police recovered multiple brands of perfume, sweatshirts, sweatpants, jackets, a blanket, and jeans that were valued at $1,642.49 in total. A can of bear mace was also found on the floorboard of the passenger side.

Tayja was booked at the Thurston County Jail for first-degree robbery, eluding police vehicle, attended hit and run, violation of an interlock ignition agreement, and driving with a suspended license. Troy was booked for first-degree robbery.

Olympia and Lacey police and Thurston County Sheriff's Office deputies were involved in this case.