Elijah Maxwell pleaded not guilty Feb. 10 in Jefferson County Superior Court on a charge of first-degree attempted robbery at Sea Breeze Gas & Grocery Store in Port Townsend.

The 18-year-old Port Townsend man is set to stand trial March 27-28, according to court records.

Maxwell is being held on $5,000 bail and remained in Jefferson County Jail on Monday, Feb. 20. He has been ordered not to make contact with the witness who reported the alleged robbery of Sea Breeze Gas & Grocery on Feb. 6.

Port Townsend police officers were dispatched to Sea Breeze at 1408 Sims Way at 9:08 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6.

An employee of the gas station told Port Townsend police officers that a man had come into the store, demanding she give him the money from the register or he would beat her with a stick he was carrying, according to a press release from Detective Patrick Fudally.

The suspect left the store before police arrived, without the employee turning over any money.

The clerk told police the suspect was wearing goggles similar to those of a biplane pilot, as well as a black hoodie and a beanie.

A Washington State Patrol trooper arrived, and a man fitting the description given by the clerk was found near Hendricks and Seventh streets, police said. The man was determined to be the suspect, based on his goggles and beanie, Sgt. Troy Surber told The Leader.

Maxwell told investigating officers that he’d gone into the Sea Breeze to obtain money to “get out of this town.”

Maxwell was booked into Jefferson County Jail Feb. 6 for first-degree attempted robbery, a felony.