Bridal Shop Workers Resist Bandit

A Concord (NH) man was arrested Friday night and charged with attempted armed robbery after he allegedly held up the Ever-After Bridal Boutique on Main Street with an X-Acto knife, police said. Robert Clayton, 34, of the McKenna House homeless shelter, is accused of fleeing the store after the female employees refused to give him money and tackled him, several sources said. Two of the girls suffered minor cuts to their hands.

He arrived about 11:30 a.m. and said he wanted to buy a gift certificate for his sister for her upcoming wedding, but said he was waiting on someone to bring him money.

Clayton later approached the female employees, showed them his X-Acto knife, ordered them into a closet in the back room and demanded money. He also told the employees that his cell phone was a bomb, sources said.

The employees, who are 19, 22 and 36, got into an altercation with Clayton. They refused to give the man any money and tackled him. They wrestled the X-Acto knife out of his hand without seriously hurting themselves.

Clayton ran out of the back of the store, leaving his jacket and knife behind.

Clayton is being held at Merrimack County jail until his arraignment, which is scheduled for Monday morning. He is charged with four counts of attempted armed robbery, three counts of kidnapping and one count of resisting arrest. The police said more charges are anticipated.