Robber hits two stores

One man carried out armed robberies at convenience stores in Columbia Heights and Evergreen in a span of less than 40 minutes Monday evening.

He got away with an unspecified amount of cash from the second store, Flathead County Sheriff's Det. Brad Parker said, but left the first one empty-handed.

By Tuesday afternoon, detectives were following several leads but had not yet released the identity of the robber.

The first call came in at 7:43 p.m. from Junction Gas and Groceries on U.S. 2 in Columbia Heights.

Parker said a man walked into the convenience store and pointed a handgun at the clerk, who was alone in the store. He stood near the cash register just inside the front door and repeatedly ordered her to come close to where he was. The clerk refused, staying toward the middle of the store.

He eventually ran out of the store and left on foot.

But he apparently had a vehicle nearby. The second call came in at 8:21 p.m. from Woodland Qwik Stop on Woodland Park Drive in Evergreen, some 20 miles away.

There, he entered the door and pointed a handgun at the clerk behind the cash register. He told her to give him the money, so she opened the till and handed over the cash. Another girl was standing next to the cashier's counter at the time, Parker said.

Once again, the intruder left on foot.

Descriptions of the bandit were the same in both robberies.

He was probably in his late teens or early 20s, Parker said, and appeared to be thin under his baggy clothing. A red or pink bandanna with white designs covered his face, the hood on his dark-blue sweatshirt was pulled over his head, and he wore baggy pants.

Parker said the man did not fire the gun in either incident.

Detectives are scrutinizing video surveillance documenting the second robbery.

Parker asked anyone with information on the robberies or the suspect to call the sheriff's office detective division at 758-5600.

Or they can call CrimeStoppers at 752-8477. Callers to this number can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward if information provided leads to arrest and conviction.