Police: Man who fired shot during Everett Mall brawl an 11-time felon

EVERETT, Wash. — A man accused of firing a pistol when he was stopped by security at the Everett Mall Wednesday night has 11 previous felony convictions, a police report said.

According to Snohomish County police documents, Charles Frederick Sprague and a woman were seen on security cameras putting a T-shirt into a bag and leaving Macy’s without paying.

A scuffle with security began when loss prevention and security officers tried to stop the pair and grab the stolen merchandise from a bag carried by Sprague, a police report said.

When Sprague tried to pull away, a mall security officer jumped on Sprague’s back in an attempt to stop him, and the brawl continued onto the ground, when Sprague pulled out a .40-caliber handgun as his companion joined the melee, police said.

Two off-duty officers in street clothes who arrived at the mall joined the altercation to help security, and when a security officer tried to grab the gun, Sprague fired a shot, which hit a metal door frame, document said.

At that point, one of the off-duty police officers pulled his gun and ordered Sprague to stop resisting. Security took the gun from Sprague and he was handcuffed.

Police said Sprague’s female companion ran away. She remains at large.

A security and off-duty officer were both slightly injured when they were bitten by Sprague, police said.

Though no one was hurt by the gunshot, it sent frenzied shoppers and employees scurrying.

Sprague was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries he received in the fight with store security and then booked into the Snohomish County Jail.

He’s expected to be in court on charges of robbery, assault and possession of a firearm Wednesday afternoon.

A background check on Sprague found he has 11 felony convictions as well as a felony warrant for Department of Corrections escape.

KIRO