A 45 year old man is in Police custody and will appear in the Nelson District Court today charged with Criminal Damage following an incident in Richmond yesterday afternoon.
Police were called to a shop in Queen Street Richmond about 3.30pm where it was reported a man had poured a chemical substance on a rack of clothing outside the store.
The offender then ran off and was pursued by members of the public.
Detective Sergeant Lex Bruning who is heading the investigation said members of the public gave chase and were instrumental in assisting Police apprehending the man quickly.
Police cordoned the area around the shop and the Fire Service decontaminated the scene. The area was closed for about two hours.
Today Police are interviewing witnesses and working to establish what the chemical involved is.
Detective Sergeant Bruning said the offending was unusual and Police were very keen to establish what the motivation for the offending was.
A woman who was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure was unharmed in the incident.
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