Seattle shoplifter threatens clerk with sharpened butter knife

SEATTLE — A man police said threatened a store clerk after he was confronted for shoplifting was arrested near a downtown Seattle convenience store.

Officers said they were a block away investigating another crime at 4:40 a.m. Monday when they were called to a 7-Eleven store at First Avenue and Cherry Street.

A clerk at the store said a man came into the store, stole several items and walked out.  When the clerk confronted the man outside, he dropped the items and threatened the clerk with a sharpened butter knife.

The clerk went back inside the store and called 911.

Officers found the man about a block away.  Police said the man was still holding the knife, but officers were able to get him to drop it and take him into custody without incident.

The man was arrested and later booked into the King County Jail on robbery charges.

KIRO