Man arrested after attempting to rob Manatee County supermarket and ice cream store

MANATEE -- A man who demanded money at a local supermarket and at a local ice cream store has been arrested, the Manatee Sheriff's Office reports.

The man walked into Winn Dixie, 1101 53rd Ave. E., Friday evening, wearing a hoodie over his head and a bandana on his face. He went directly to the service desk and demanded the clerk open the safe and give him the money. When he was refused, he left the store without getting anything, according to the sheriff's office.

A short time later, the man went to the Dairy Queen at 5217 14th Street West wearing a hoodie and a bandana tied to his face. He implied he had a gun. Holding his hand under his jacket, he demanded the money from the register, the sheriff's office reported.

The ice cream clerk was trying to get the money from the register when the man started getting angry and tried to hit the clerk with a serving tray. When he missed, the suspect jumped up on the counter and attempted to punch the clerk, who yelled at his attacker to get out of the store. As the man left the store, again without any money, he was met at the door by another employee and detained until the arrival of law enforcement.

The sheriff's office identified the suspect as Palmer Chatman, 58. He faces charges of attempted robbery and attempted armed robbery.

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 10:30 PM with the headline "Man arrested after attempting to rob Manatee County supermarket and ice cream store ."