A man was arrested on several charges, after police in Tigard and Tualatin believe he used stolen bear spray against a store manager to leave the scene of a robbery.

On Monday, October 14, 2024, at 3:50PM Tigard Police responded to a store at Washington Square Mall on a report that someone had released pepper spray inside the mall. Officers learned a man, later identified as Peter Lent (DOB 10/15/1998), had stolen merchandise from a store. When the store manager followed him out into the mall, Lent turned around and used bear spray against the manager to get away. Lent left the area before police arrived.

Due to the effects of the bear spray in the air, several other people reported irritation from exposure to the spray. Paramedics with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue responded to provide medical assistance to those who chose to be evaluated. Fortunately, no one reported serious injury or needed to go to the hospital.

Officers learned that Lent stole items from a second store at the mall a few hours earlier, around 1PM. He was also the suspect in a separate theft from a store in Tualatin where bear spray and other items were stolen around 2:15PM that same day.

Police also believe Lent stole an electric bicycle from a Tualatin store on October 9, 2024.

On Wednesday evening, October 16, 2024, Lent was located by transit police and was arrested in Beaverton. He was booked into the Washington County Jail on charges of theft I (for the bicycle), theft 2 x2, robbery 3 and unlawful use of a stun gun/mace.

###