An alleged robbery at the Picayune Shell gas station on Memorial Boulevard was foiled early Saturday morning by a quick thinking clerk.

At about 1:26 a.m., a call came into the Picayune Police Department concerning an alleged robbery taking place. Officers arrived in time to find the suspect, Richard Davis, 40, of 33 Tom Seals Rd., Carriere, still inside the store.

Police Chief Jim Luke said the investigation showed that Davis pulled up to the store in his tan Ford Taurus and left his engine running.

The clerk told the responding officers that after she saw the car pull up it looked as though Davis was waiting for the customers that were inside to leave the store. Once they left, Davis came inside and went to the bathroom. The clerk told the officers that she noticed that while he was in the bathroom Davis would open the door slightly to watch customers as they entered and exited the store.

When it appeared all the customers had left Davis came and approached the clerk, asking her if she could read. Without waiting for a response he handed her a note that read; “’You have 20 seconds. You are being robbed. Don’t be stupid. Give me everything,’” Luke read from the report.

Luke said another customer entered the store and the clerk told Davis that she first had to wash her hands due to her recent handling of some garbage. The clerk stepped in the back of the store and called the Police Department, Luke said.

When she came back up front she noticed that Davis had removed the note from the counter and was standing next to the drink cooler apparently waiting for the customers to leave the store.

Officers pulled up to find the tan Taurus still in front of the store with the engine running and Davis still inside. Officers took Davis into custody, who appeared to be intoxicated, Luke said. A search of Davis’ car found an open beer.

“Due to her quick response by calling the police, we were able to arrive quickly and make the arrest,” Luke said.

Davis also had two knives on him at the time, a filet knife in his waistband and a folding knife in his front pocket. Also in one of his pockets was the note.

Davis was charged with robbing by threat, carrying a concealed weapon, public drunk and possession of open beer.