PORTLAND, Maine — Portland police officers are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who threatened and chased a clerk while brandishing a handgun on Forest Avenue Thursday evening.
The clerk, who was working alone at Tebb’s Smoke Shop at 845 Forest Ave., said she was threatened by an armed masked man and chased throughout the store before she fled the building on foot around 6:30 p.m.
The suspect left the area on foot and was last seen heading outbound on Forest Avenue. The clerk was unharmed in the attack.
The shop’s surveillance system captured the crime on video, which is available for viewing by the public. The perpetrator was wearing a mask and a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, and was carrying a gray backpack.
Police are unsure if the suspect intended to commit a violent crime or rob the shop, but apparently nothing was taken during the attack.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Portland Police Department by calling 874-8479, texting “GOTCHA” along with an anonymous tip message to 274637 (CRIMES), or going online at www.portland-police.com and clicking on the “submit an anonymous crime tip” link.
“… or commit another violent crime.” Nicely tiptoed around.
How scary for her.
If convenience stores want to stay open 24/7, then there should ALWAYS be more than one person working in them.
Not that I disagree with you (’cause I don’t), but it’s not really relevant to this incident; if you clock the original article, you’ll note that this happened at 6:30 PM, which (even in Maine) is not exactly the middle of the graveyard shift. :)
True, but I didn’t say it was the graveyard shift. I said if stores want to stay open 24/7, then there should always be more than one person working in them.
The time of day doesn’t matter.
What are people in this state becoming? Wiggers with attitude?
That poor girl must have been scared to death. I wonder why he chased her and took nothing. Thank God he didnt use that weapon. I agree with sassyfrazz that there should always be at least two people working in these stores. I hope they catch this scumbag an he is charged with terrorizing among other things.
“I wonder why he chased her and took nothing.”
Well, it’s only speculation, mind, but I refer you to the scene in the 1971 crime classic Dirty Harry in which Inspector Callahan (Clint Eastwood) is called to the Mayor’s office to account for his actions in a shooting incident. BDN comment policy prevent me from quoting Harry’s line in its entirety, but those who know the film will recognize it if I say it ends with, “… I figure he isn’t out collecting for the Red Cross.”