Police: Man threatened workers with knife

Police arrested a transient man Sunday night who allegedly threatened store employees with a knife after he was confronted for stealing alcohol.

B.J. Churo allegedly stole a bottle of wine from the Safeway store at East Mill Plain Boulevard and North Andresen Road before midnight Sunday, and when confronted by store employees, he left and returned with a large kitchen knife, Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Mike Chylack said.

Eventually, employees ended up locking the front door to keep Churo from re-entering while they called police, Chylack said.

He was standing outside the door when officers arrived, Chylack said.

Churo was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery.

Churo previously has trespassed at the store, Chylack said, and has been a regular source of complaints.

“He’s a repeat customer,” he said.