Police Search for Man Suspected of Strong-Arm Robbery and Kidnapping

Santa Cruz police are searching for a man who attempted a strong-arm robbery and tried to kidnap an employee at a retail store Saturday morning, officials said.

The suspect walked into a business in the 1300 block of Pacific Avenue at about 10:15 a.m., approached an employee and demanded money, police said.

The employee, a 22-year-old Santa Cruz resident who was uninjured during the attack, refused to open the cash register. The man told the employee to get into a dressing room, before he dragged the employee by the arm toward the rear of the store, police said.

When the victim screamed, the man put his hand over the employee's mouth before running out of the store, police said.

Officers canvassed the area around the business but could not find the man.

The suspect is described as a white man, standing about 6-foot tall, weighing about 250 pounds, with receding gray hair. He was wearing a blue sweatshirt with "Dons" partially written in cursive, gray jeans and glasses.

Anyone with additional information about the suspect or the attempted robbery is encouraged to call the Santa Cruz Police Department at 831-420-5820 or leave an anonymous tip at 831-420-5820.

—Bay City News Service