WATERVILLE — Police are looking for man who reportedly used a hammer to try to rob Scotty’s Pizza & Variety Store in the city’s South End Sunday night.
A store employee was closing the 47 Water St. store around 10:30 p.m., had gone outside and was trying to lock the door when a man accosted him with a hammer, Deputy police Chief Charles Rumsey said Monday.
The man who tried to rob the store is described as being 5-foot-10, probably in his 20s or 30s, of thin build and wearing dark clothing and a black ski mask, Rumsey said.
He demanded money and pushed the employee, Rumsey said.
But the employee managed to slip back into the store, close the door and lock it, Rumsey said.
“He (man attempting to rob the store) banged  on the door several times but didn’t force his way into the building,” he said.
The employee waited inside for several minutes, saw people on the street and assumed his assailant was gone, according to Rumsey.
“He then exited the store, locked it up and drove himself to the Police Department and reported the crime to us,” Rumsey said. “We went down and searched the area with all our available personnel and spoke to several people but were not able to locate or identify the suspect.”
Detective Alan Perkins is investigating the attempted robbery. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Perkins at 680-4700.
 Rumsey said if police are able to identify the person responsible, he would be charged with attempted robbery, criminal threatening and assault.
The store employee was not injured, he said.
Rumsey said it is very difficult to provide a standard set of instructions to someone facing such a situation, as every one is different.
Police typically tell people to do what they need to do stay safe and that they should understand that their choices can have consequences.
“This person made a decision to evade the person and deny him entry to the building and it worked, certainly, in his favor,” Rumsey said.

Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com