Coach stops attack at Tri-Cities mall. Then a thief stole his gifts

A Kennewick football coach and his wife stepped between an attacker and a store employee during a confrontation at Columbia Center mall this weekend. And that’s when an opportunistic thief stole their Christmas presents.

Brett and Evann Hall were Christmas shopping on Saturday evening when they saw a confrontation between Devan Barth, 21, and an employee at a mall kiosk., according to a Kennewick police Facebook post.

A witness called police just before 8:30 p.m. to report that Barth had been yelling racial slurs and acting erratically. He appeared to be intoxicated, Commander Isaac Merkl told the Tri-City Herald.

Barth reportedly stepped behind the counter of a kiosk and pushed an employee. When the employee moved back and didn’t engage, Barth started walking away.

But moments later, Barth turned back toward the employee and that’s when Brett Hall stepped in to try and calm him down. However, Barth allegedly tried to punch Hall, Merkl said.

Hall stopped him and he and his wife pinned him down and got him to cool off before police arrived.

“They did a really good job,” Merkl said.

Barth was arrested and booked into the Benton County jail on three counts of misdemeanor assault.

But, during the short struggle, a thief grabbed the Halls’ recently purchased Christmas gifts.

Merkl said police are looking through video, trying to identify the woman who took them.

Police officers wanted to recognize the Halls’ efforts to step up during a time of need, and provided them each with a $100 gift card.

The cards are part of the Kennewick police Foundation’s positive policing program. They are funded through a donation from HAPO Community Credit Union.

“We know the partnership between the KPD and the community is key to making it a safer place for everyone,” Kennewick police said in the post.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact police using the non-emergency dispatch number at 509-628-0333 or online at kpdtips.com.