POST FALLS - Normally, it's potential victims who like to carry pepper spray.

But it turns out that some suspects also like to have it handy to escape.

A male robbery suspect allegedly sprayed a female Walmart employee in the face with pepper spray while stealing a TV at the store near Cabela's early Sunday.

Post Falls Police on Tuesday released surveillance images of the suspect and the vehicle used in the escape.

The suspect - described as in his 20s and wearing a black beanie cap, brown sweatshirt and black pants during the crime - has not been identified. The vehicle is a four-door blue sedan with mag wheels.

"The suspect sprayed the female employee in the face after he was confronted about the theft when exiting," Post Falls police Capt. Pat Knight said.

Medical responded to ensure that the female employee did not have any adverse reactions to the pepper spray. The employee declined to seek further treatment.

Officers responded to the store at 6405 W. Pointe Parkway at 1:04 a.m.

An assistant manager of the store told police he had approached the suspect in the electronics section after the suspicious male attempted to remove a display TV and knocked down other items in the process.

"The male responded very aggressively and was agitated," the police report states.

The suspect then picked up a boxed 48-inch Vizio TV valued at $448 and walked away with the TV on his head.

"(The assistant manager) decided to let the male go because he felt the male was going to become dangerous if he continued to talk with him," the report states.

The male exited the western doors, which had been turned off and he had pried open with his hands to enter the store, according to police.

As he was leaving the store, the suspect allegedly sprayed the female employee and was last seen in a grassy area south of the parking lot. The suspect left the TV in the grassy area between the parking lot and Pointe Parkway, and ran to the suspect vehicle driven by someone else, police said.

"The male got into the vehicle and rode to where he had put the TV down," the police report states. "The vehicle stops for a few moments, then leaves eastbound on Pointe Parkway toward Interstate 90."

The TV was not found and presumably stolen.

Those with information are urged to contact Post Falls Police at 773-3517 or leave an anonymous tip at www.postfallspolice.com.