Sanford police released new video surveillance footage Wednesday of a botched armed robbery Tuesday evening at the Super 8 Motel on Main Street in the hope it will yield a tip leading to an arrest, Detective Sgt. Matthew Jones said in a press release.

The 2-minute, 30-second video shows a white man entering the lobby of the motel around 8:20 p.m. and approaching the front desk clerk while clutching a knife in his right hand. Police said the robber demanded money, but the clerk refused to cooperate.

The suspect then reached over the granite countertop and tried to grab the clerk’s laptop, but she yanked it away, retreated to a back room and dialed 911.

The suspect then picked up a glass candy jar from the counter and held it in the air before setting it back on the counter and running away.

The suspect was wearing a blue and gray-striped hoodie, which was pulled around his face. The robber was also wearing Snap-on gloves.

Jones said that before he entered the motel, the suspect was seen pacing outside for several minutes.

Advertisement

Sanford police say they are also looking for a woman who had an encounter with the suspect in the parking lot of the Sanford Wal-Mart around 8:02 p.m. Police released a still image of the woman leaving Wal-Mart, which is within walking distance of the motel.

The unidentified woman was putting bags in her car when the suspect walked past her, doubled back and confronted her, Jones said.

“A brief interaction took place between the two. It did not appear that the two were acquainted,” Jones said. The suspect walked off after the 30-second encounter.

Sanford police are asking the public for their help in identifying the suspect. Contact Detective Chad Allen at 324-9170, or call 324-3644 after normal business hours.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.