Petaluma police seeking man in attempted robbery

Petaluma police Thursday were looking for a man who tried to rob a corner store.

The attempted robbery took place at about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Fairwest Grocery at Western Avenue and Fair Street, police officials said.

The unknown man went into the store and ordered the clerk to open the cash register, police said. The suspect reached toward his waistband, although no weapon was seen or mentioned, officials said.

The clerk refused to open the cash register and ran to the back of the store where other employees were working. The suspect ran out, and was followed by several people outside the store. The man was seen running west through the neighborhood before the witnesses lost sight of him, police said.

Police searched the area but did not find the suspect.

Surveillance images show a white man in his mid-20s, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall, wearing a black hat and sweatshirt, glasses, white basketball-type shorts and black shoes.

Anyone with information about the case can call Petaluma police at 778-4372.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.