By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
A Salisbury man was arrested Thursday morning after authorities say he walked into a gas station wearing a mask and threatened the clerk with a knife.
According to a Salisbury Police report, James Blake Sides, 41, demanded money from the cashier, brandishing an 8-inch knife, at a BP station at 601 Jake Alexander Blvd. at about 5 a.m.
The woman hit the emergency panic button and Sides fled the scene. No money was given to the suspect.
Authorities said two citizens who witnessed the robbery got into a vehicle and followed Sides after he ran behind the nearby KFC and got onto his mo-ped.
The two bystanders continued to follow Sides as he fled on the mo-ped, turning onto Sherrills Ford Road. As they followed, they phoned Salisbury Police, updating officers on the location of the robber.
The report said the witnesses told police that Sides was removing his mask and gloves and throwing them to the side of the road as he fled.
When Salisbury Police located and arrested Sides, they found the reported knife, along with drug paraphernalia, the report said.
Sides, of 750 Lakeview Drive, was charged with felony robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was given a $25,000 bond.