CENTRALIA — Centralia police are investigating an attempted armed robbery of the west side Farm Fresh store Wednesday night and are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect.

According to reports, around 9:37 p.m. Wednesday, a younger, skinny black male entered the store wearing a black North Face coat, black pants and white tennis shoes with some color on the shoes. He walked around the store and eventually placed some items on the counter for purchase.

Police say that as the clerk rang up the items the subject walked around the counter and placed a kitchen knife to the clerk’s throat. She reportedly stepped back and hit the panic alarm, but the subject grabbed the buzzer and threw it to the ground.

The subject then reportedly struck the register with his knife but couldn’t get it opened. He then walked to the second register, which he also failed to open.

The subject then fled the store on foot heading westbound on Noleman. Anyone with information about this incident or the subject are urged to contact the Centralia Police Department at 533-7604.