Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a robbery in progress Tuesday morning, at Dollar General located on Merlin Road at approximately 8:40am.
Due to detailed descriptions provided by the victims and witnesses on scene, the subject was quickly located and taken into custody without further incident when Deputies arrived on scene.
During the investigation, it was discovered that 72 year old Mark Whidden approached the counter and advised the employee he was going to “rob them”. Whidden then threw a cup full of a chemical, later identified as muriatic acid, on two store employees causing severe chemical burns.
Both employees stated they attempted to flee from Whidden to a nearby store restroom to decontaminate from the chemical exposure when Whidden then cornered the employees with a knife and attempted to assault them both with the weapon.
Both victims were transported to an area hospital to be treated for chemical burns related to their exposure.
When Deputies took Whidden into custody he was found to be in possession of the muriatic acid and the knife used.and was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on multiple charges including, Robbery in the First Degree, 2 counts of Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon (knife), and Menacing.
This is remains an active investigation and no further details are being released at this time.
