Windsor Police Services are investigating a robbery involving a "noxious chemical" at a Shopper's Drug Mart on the corner of Tecumseh Rd. E and Howard Ave.
The incident was reported just before 5pm Saturday. Windsor police, Windsor Fire and Rescue, and Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services treated customers and employees exposed to the substance.
.@WindsorPolice & @WindsorFire1 on scene @ Shoppers Drug Mart on Howard & Tecumseh. Employee says a noxious chemical was released. #cklw pic.twitter.com/N3MEOKzQIa
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) September 16, 2017
Jocelyn Girard was shopping when the incident began, and was a little skeptical at first.
"This guy came into the aisle and was like, 'someone's robbing the place' and we didn't believe him at first," she says. "We thought he was playing a joke or something, then we heard some yelling."
What Girard thought was a practical joke turned out to be a little too real — she didn't get wind of the chemical, but says she was close enough to know what was going on.
"I peak around the corner and it's this guy with a grey-hoodie and a mask on. I was like, this place is actually getting robbed," she says. "I got a little nervous."
She told AM800 News, everyone quickly ran out of the store.
"Someone was like, 'leave the store, leave the store,'" says Girard. "Then someone was ushering us out."
Police are unable to confirm what was released in the store at this time. Detectives on scene told AM800 News, there is no threat to public safety — the store will be closed until further notice while they conduct their investigation.
A Man is attended to in front of the Shopper's Drug Mart on Tecumseh Rd. E and Howard Ave. after exposure to an unknown chemical used in a robbery Saturday Sept. 16, 2017. (Photo by AM800's Gord Bacon)