Police: Pepper Spray Bandit Foiled By His Own Weapon

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Image: Joseph Michael Liller (PWCPD)

In a shoplifting incident last week, a Woodbridge man’s use of pepper spray backfired on him, say the Prince William County police.

The suspect allegedly tried to steal items Thursday night from a store in the Potomac Mills area, using pepper spray on an employee who confronted him. But when police responded to the scene, they found the suspect a short distance away, “inside his vehicle suffering from the effects of the pepper spray,” a police report stated.

The police arrested Joseph Michael Liller, 26, of 14000 Madrigal Drive, and charged him with attempted malicious wounding and assault with a caustic substance, the police report said. He’s being held without bond in the Prince William-Manassas regional jail, and his next date in court is Aug. 4.

The confrontation occurred shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday at Tobacco King, at 13273 Worth Ave. A store employee told police that he confronted an unknown man, later identified as Liller, inside the store for attempting to steal items. A struggle ensued and Liller allegedly sprayed the employee with pepper spray and made threats implying he had a knife.

Liller then fled the store and got into the vehicle, the police report stated. Minor injuries were reported and no property was taken.