The Newton County Sheriff's Office needs the public's help as they search for a suspect in the armed robbery of a local BP gas station.

At approximately 11:35 p.m. Saturday night, an unidentified black male entered the BP gas station at 387 Ga. Highway 11 and reportedly told the cashier, "Open up the cash register and give me all you got."

Before the cashier could comply, the man reportedly demanded, "Give me two cartons of Newports."

While the suspect demanded the items, he held a small caliber semi-automatic at the cashier's stomach. She gave the man the cash register's contents, approximately $500, as well as the cigarettes.

NCSO Investigator Lt. Bill Watterson said the suspect was upset with the amount of money in the register and demanded to know where the rest of the money was. Watterson said the cashier told the suspect the money was in the vault and could not be removed.

 The man then fled to a waiting car outside and he and the driver left the scene.

The suspect was described as a young black male, possibly in his 20s, wearing a large black shirt, a black skull cap and checked pants.

The car was described as a silver Dodge four door sedan.

If you have information about the incident, please call the NCSO at (678) 625-1403. Tips may also be given anonymously at (678) 625-5007 or on their Web site www.newtonsheriffga.org.