Carrs evacuated after pepper-spraying

WASILLA -- Customers and store employees were evacuated from Carrs for about an hour Tuesday afternoon after someone released pepper spray inside the store.

Ambulances from Central Mat-Su Fire Department responded at 4 p.m. following reports of a "toxic, noxious" substance in the air, said Dennis Brodigan, deputy director of the Mat-Su Borough Department of Public Safety.

Firefighters went inside to investigate and to remove some workers remaining in areas farthest from the deli, where the spraying took place, Brodigan said.

"We ventilated the building and blew out the pepper spray," he said. "It took less than an hour and Carrs was in business again."

A few customers and workers were given oxygen after suffering upper respiratory irritation, Brodigan said. No one was transported for hospital treatment.

Two ambulances responded initially, with another dispatched soon afterward. Brodigan said emergency personnel wanted to shelter people from the afternoon's cold temperature and strong wind.

Assistant store manager Gary Crist said Carrs personnel haven't been able to determine just what happened. However, he said it is believed that juveniles may have been responsible.

Brodigan said the mystery may be solved with the help of technology. "Stores do have video cameras," he said.

No arrests have been made. The Wasilla Police Department officer who investigated was unavailable for comment.