UPDATE, 4:05 p.m.: Suspect description from HCSO:

The male suspect wanted in connection to the robbery at Murphy’s Market on Jan. 31, 2018 is described as a white male adult in his late twenties, 6’2” or 6’3” tall, average build, about 220 pounds with short, dark brown hair and a medium complexion.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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Original Post: From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office::

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man who assaulted a store clerk while attempting to shoplift from a Cutten business.

On Jan. 31, 2018 around 5:40 p.m. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Murphy’s Market in Cutten for the report of a robbery that had just occurred.

According to the business, the male suspect entered the store wearing a gorilla mask. When asked to take the mask off, the suspect complied and began to load a shopping cart with several hundred dollars of merchandise. The suspect then attempted to exit the store without paying. A store clerk confronted the suspect and attempted to detain him for shoplifting. The suspect sprayed the clerk with a chemical agent and fled the business on foot. The suspect did not take any merchandise with him and left behind the gorilla mask and a knife. The suspect possibly left the property in a white Ford F150.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.