Elderly woman knocked aside in mall escape

Three juveniles suspected of fleeing a Westfield Vancouver mall shoe store in stolen sneakers bumped into a 75-year-old woman on their way out the door.

Initial police radio reports indicated the woman was struck in the head with an unidentified object as the suspects made their getaway.

That wasn’t the case, according to Kim Kapp, a Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman, who said the woman may have bumped her head against the wall when the juveniles pushed her aside on their way through Excalibur Cutlery & Gifts, and out of the mall, 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive.

The incident was reported at 2:17 p.m. Tuesday. Kapp said the woman refused medical treatment.

The suspects were allegedly running out of the mall after they each swiped a pair of shoes, Kapp said. The juveniles left in shoes they hadn’t paid for when a shoe store clerk stepped away to grab other sizes.

“They ran out of the store with these brand new tennis shoes on and ran into her,” Kapp said.

According to witness statements, the juveniles were about 16-years-old. One wore a multi-colored track suit and the others were dressed in black, hooded sweatshirts, Kapp said.

Kapp said police are working with mall security to gather additional information.