Police seek suspect in Santa Rosa convenience store robbery

Police are searching for a man who robbed a south Santa Rosa convenience store Sunday night and pepper-sprayed an employee and two customers as he fled.

The suspect, who was described as a male possibly in his 20s, reportedly entered the Grog Shop Liquor and Deli on the corner of Kawana Springs Road and Santa Rosa Avenue about 7:30 p.m. He asked the clerk for several items, including cigarettes, alcohol and lottery tickets, before demanding money, said Santa Rosa police Sgt. Chad Heiser.

The clerk initially thought the man was kidding, police said. He then produced what appeared to be a gun, though investigators weren’t sure if it was a real or replica firearm, Heiser said. The clerk complied with his demands and gave the suspect as much cash as she could before the man pepper-sprayed her and two customers on his way out.

The amount of money stolen is still being determined, police said.

When authorities arrived, they treated the clerk and two customers who were pepper-sprayed, Heiser said. Nobody suffered any major injuries.

The suspect was described as wearing a large, black hooded sweatshirt with a white T-shirt underneath, police said. He was also possibly wearing a dark-colored beanie, dark baggy jeans and black shoes.

Investigators encouraged anyone with information to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department’s Violent Crimes Investigation Team at 707-543-3590.

Staff Writer Chantelle Lee contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writer Yousef Baig at 707-521-5390 or yousef.baig@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @YousefBaig.