The Norwich Police are seeking help in identifying an individual who committed a gunpoint robbery of Holt’s Hemp Emporium Tuesday afternoon. If you have any information contact the Norwich City Police at 607-334-2424. (Photos from NPD)

NORWICH – The City of Norwich Police Department and New York State Police are investigating a brazen armed robbery of a hemp store that occurred in downtown Norwich Tuesday afternoon.

“We are following down every lead. Our detectives have been working around the clock,” said Norwich Police Department (NPD) Detective Sergeant Reuben Roach.

Police are seeking help in identifying the suspect or his motorcycle that was seen on released images from surveillance footage.

Police reported the gunpoint robbery occurred at about 1:09 p.m. on May 23 at Holt’s Hemp Emporium at 20 South Broad Street in the City of Norwich.

Police said the suspect was described as a black male, approximately 6’01, wearing light tan camouflage pants, a blue hoodie, and a black helmet with a black backpack. He displayed a black handgun and stole a quantity of U.S. currency.

The suspect was last seen driving a red and white Yamaha racing motorcycle traveling south on New York State Route 12.

If you have any information, please contact the Norwich City Police at 607-334-2424.

Police said the robbery was a planned event. The suspect arrived on a motorcycle and parked outside. He went into the store armed with a pistol and duct tape and sped from the scene with cash, with the entire incident lasting about three minutes.

“This was pre-planned event,” said Roach. “This individual was going to duct tape the store owner."

He said a bystander then walked into the store and, "...kind of foiled the robbery. And then the individual took off with an amount of currency,” said the chief.

“He was definitely set up for this. He had [duct tape] attached to his belt and he went to take it off and (another person) came out. It created quite a panic,” said Roach.

The store advertises a number of products online at holtshemp.com that appear related to hemp, THC products, marijuana and smoking.