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Man dressed as Darth Vader tries to rob Jax Beach convenience store

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — It was a stick up caught on camera, and one that was hard for even police to believe.

“In all of my years of experience, it was something to look at. I’ll just say that,” Cmdr. Mark Evans, Jacksonville Beach Police Department, said.

Sunday, a call came in about a man with dark clothing, a Star Wars mask and gloves entering the convenience store.

He whipped out a silver revolver and demanded money from the clerk.

The clerk didn’t back down. Instead, the 67-year-old threw a bottle of ranch chip dip at the man’s head.

He ran out bleeding and went to a nearby neighborhood, where police arrested him.

“That’s kind of psychotic, to tell you the truth,” said witness Richard Ehrman.

Police said the man behind this mask is 32-year-old Jacob Mercer.

Ehrman said he saw him about 30 seconds before the attempted robbery.

“He looked really paranoid, you know. But I didn’t think nothing of it, because nothing’s really happened in this area,” Ehrman said.

According to this picture on mercer’s Facebook page, he does appear to be a big fan of star wars.

Much to Ehrman’s relief, the light side of the force prevailed.

“I don’t know. I didn’t pick up on it when I saw him. For real. I mean, I should have. I tell you what: I’ll be more weary from now on. That’s a fact,”Ehrman said.

Even though Mercer’s gun was fake, the act was still very serious. He’s been charged with armed robbery.

The new Star Wars movie “The Force Awakens” comes out Dec.18.