Photo by Sam Yu The Frederick County Sheriff's Office is investigating an attempted robbery at the Frederick Best Buy store Monday. The suspect sprayed two store employees with pepper spray.

One employee, a 21-year-old man from Harper's Ferry, W.Va., went to Frederick Memorial Hospital for treatment. A report on his condition was not available Monday evening.

The other employee, a male Frederick County resident, was treated by EMS personnel at the scene.

The store was not open at 7:25 a.m. when the attack occurred, and no customers were inside, according to Cpl. Jennifer Bailey, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

The suspect fled the store before police arrived. He is described as a white male, about 5 feet, 9 or 10 inches tall and 170 pounds. He was wearing khaki pants, a black puffy jacket and a dark-colored knit cap.

The man came into the store, sprayed two employees with pepper spray and demanded store merchandise. Another employee called 911, and the man left before taking anything, Cpl. Bailey said.

Sheriff's deputies and Maryland State Police officers canvassed the area, but they could not find the suspect.

Detective Denise Engelberg of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office is heading the investigation. The sheriff's office is not releasing details of the incident to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.

Best Buy officials declined to comment.

Anyone can buy pepper spray at The Gun Center and May's Hardware, both on Rosemont Avenue. Adults can buy Mace and pepper spray, made from the same natural, hot pepper-based irritant, in 3- to 4-ounce cans at the Sports Authority.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Detective Engelberg at 301-631-3495.