Attempted robbery reported at gas station

CARLSBAD — A man attempted to rob a Carlsbad Village gas station with a handgun on Jan. 9 at approximately 9:45 p.m. The suspect entered the Valero Gas Station at 920 Carlsbad Village Drive and purchased a bag of M&M’s with a $5 bill. When the suspect was receiving the change, he demanded the remainder of the money in the cash drawer from store clerk Belinda Bartles. He then displayed a black handgun and brandished it in a threatening manner at Bartles.
Bartles was startled and backed away from the register. Another unrelated customer entered the store. This disrupted the robbery and the suspect put away his pistol and left the store. He was last seen heading north on foot on Harding Street.
The suspect was described as a black male with a goatee, about 25 years old, 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds. He was wearing a black beanie, a black “hoodie” type sweatshirt with a red and gray print on the front, yellow lens glasses, blue jeans and black shoes.
Call the Carlsbad Police Department if you have any information related to this case. The investigation is continuing.