Police arrested two robbery suspects Sunday who were pepper sprayed in self-defense by a Mesa convenience store clerk.
Police responded to a Chevron at 5965 E. Brown Road after getting a 911 hang-up about 4:43 a.m. Sunday. The clerk told officers three men had entered the store and argued with him because one of the men didn’t have enough money to buy a pack of cigarettes.
Two of the men went behind the counter to slap the clerk and push him around. The clerk used pepper spray on the man who assaulted him, and then on another man who approached him. The suspects backed down, and all three left the store in a red sports utility vehicle.
A witness outside the store was familiar with the vehicle and pointed police to where it is normally parked. Officers contacted the three men and arrested Jason C. Aguilera, 31, and Vincent R. Valenzuela, 19, on suspicion of aggravated robbery.
