By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@thecitizennews.com

Faced with a knife-wielding intruder early Tuesday morning, a clerk at the Second Store Amoco convenience store escaped serious injury by activating a panic alarm to scare off the intruder, police said.

The would-be robber got away from the store at 1866 Ga. Highway 85 north empty-handed before deputies arrived, said Lt. Mahlon Donald of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. Officers were unable to locate the suspect at the scene despite a search using trained dogs, Donald said. The dogs could not pick up the trail left by the attacker, he added.

Investigators believe the attacker had a vehicle parked across the street which was used to flee the scene.

Though the business has a “night window” to use for transactions with customers, the attacker forced his way into the store, Donald said.

The clerk, Ruby Gibson, 45, received a cut on her hand during a struggle with the attacker, but Donald was unsure if it was caused by the knife. The wound was not serious enough to warrant medical treatment, the lieutenant said.

The knife has not been recovered, Donald added.

Investigators planned to create a composite sketch of the attacker's face Tuesday afternoon to aid in making a possible arrest.

The incident was caught on the store's video surveillance system and the tape will be enhanced to get a better look at the attacker, Donald said.

The suspect was described by Donald as a black male, about 5 feet 9 inches, wearing a yellow shirt and tan pants.

If an arrest is made, the suspect will likely be charged with criminal attempt to commit armed robbery and aggravated assault, Donald said.