CLARKESVILLE - A woman exiting the Clarkesville Post Office about 10 p.m. Tuesday was the victim of an attempted armed robbery.
Clarkesville Police Chief Brad Barrett said the female victim, whose name is being withheld, was returning to her vehicle from the post office when she heard footsteps in the nearby bushy area.
She quickly got into her car and locked the door.
"A male, fully clothed in dark clothing and who had a white T-shirt wrapped around his head, approached the driver's side door and presented a firearm - handgun - and demanded money.
"She then did something that startled the suspect and at that time he fled the scene, going in the direction of Family Dollar," Barrett said. "She lost sight of him and called 9-1-1."
A tracking dog from Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto was called and picked up a track.
That track led in front of the Family Dollar area, across the parking lot of adjacent businesses, then behind the Wa-Lo Shopping Center and into a nearby business across from Ellison Street, Barrett said.
"We recovered a small Glock replica - I guess you'd call it an Airsoft gun in the parking lot there and then lost track," Barrett said.
Personnel from Georgia State Patrol, Demorest Police Department and the Habersham County Sheriff's Office also assisted in the search.
"Right now we're processing the firearm that we recovered to see if any evidence can be located on it," Barrett said. "At this point, it leaves us investigating any leads that we can get in the matter. We really don't have anything at the moment, other than the description she gave us - and that was not a lot. She gave information of the male being somewhat slender or average."
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Clarkesville Police Department and Habersham County Sheriff's Office are investigating.
"It's a dimly-lit parking lot," Barrett said. "My advice would be not to go late at night if they can possibly help it. If they have to go and want a police escort they can call [the 9-1-1 center at (706) 778-3911], we don't mind them calling. An officer can go and stand by with them.
"Other than that, it would be better if they were in pairs, and park in the most lit area of the post office and be as vigilant as possible," Barrett. "Again, we don't mind standing by if they have to do business."
Anyone with information about the incident or a possible name of the person involved is asked to contact one of those agencies. They can call Habersham Dispatch at (706) 778-3911 and ask that an investigator contact them for the information.
