Cross-Dressing Robbers Used Pepper Spray in Home Depot Theft, Say Fla. Police

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (CBS/WKMG) Three men, including two who were dressed as women, were arrested at a Home Depot Wednesday after dousing employees and customers with pepper spray during a botched robbery, authorities say.

Boynton Beach police arrested Jeffrey Baldwin, Kendal Lowry and David Tucker, all from the Miami area, and have charged them with armed robbery and aggravated battery.

When the suspects were nabbed, police said Lowry was wearing a tank top and boots and Tucker was wearing a pink shirt and denim skirt, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.

Police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater said police confronted the suspects at the main entrance of the store shortly before 1 p.m. after they were accused of stealing tool batteries, reports The Orlando Sentinel.

Police were able to recover a "purse full of batteries" and other items before the suspects took aim at customers and employees with pepper spray and attempted to flee; however, a police sergeant who was waiting for them in the parking lot was able to make the arrests.

"Several people who were in that area of the store at the time were affected, including one woman, who actually ... passed out from the effects of the fumes," police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater told WKMG.

Four people were taken to the hospital, and two others were treated at the scene.

A fourth man, Carlton Mitchell, was taken into custody and later released. Police said Mitchell was in the getaway vehicle but wasn't involved in the crime.

The Home Depot was briefly evacuated because of the fumes.