Hapless 'thief fails in his robbery attempt by accidentally pepper spraying HIMSELF instead of pharmacy staff'

  • Michael Kevin Meadows, 43, of West Virginia used the chemical spray in effort to take down employees while at a Bypass Pharmacy, police said
  • Security footage showed he walked into a cloud of the spray in front of him before staggering out of the store
  • Meadows has been charged with attempted second-degree robbery 

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: | Updated:

A West Virginia man is in jail after authorities say he thwarted his own robbery by accidentally pepper spraying himself.

Michael Kevin Meadows, 43, of Shady Spring went into the Bypass Pharmacy in Beaver on Tuesday wearing full camouflage, a hat and a paintball mask, authorities said. 

He then started spraying pepper spray in an effort to incapacitate employees before walking into the cloud of the chemical spray in front of him, according to the Register-Herald.

Michael Kevin Meadows, 43, of West Virginia foiled his own robbery at a pharmacy when he used pepper spray to take down employees but accidentally walked into the cloud of the chemical spray (above a photo of him taken from surveillance footage during the attempted robbery)
Police said security footage from the incident showed Meadows was affected by the pepper spray that he walked into

Michael Kevin Meadows, 43, of West Virginia foiled his own robbery at a pharmacy when he used pepper spray to take down employees but accidentally walked into the cloud of the chemical spray, police said (Meadows pictured right, and left, during the attempted robbery as he sprays the pepper spray)

Police said security footage from the incident showed Meadows was affected by the pepper spray that he walked into, and that he staggered out of the business before getting into a 2005 GMC Denali driven by another man. 

The driver disclosed details of what happened, as well as identified Meadows, to police investigating the incident.

Meadows was arrested on Wednesday and was charged with attempted second-degree robbery, according to WVVA. He was taken to Southern Regional Jail where he is held on a $100,000 bond.  

Authorities did not say why the driver was not charged as an accessory to the attempted robbery, according to the Register-Herald. 

Meadows was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted second-degree robbery (above the Bypass Pharmacy in Beaver)

Meadows was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted second-degree robbery (above the Bypass Pharmacy in Beaver)

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