Iowa City police are investigating a Sept. 21 robbery at Romantix, 315 Kirkwood Ave., after receiving reports that a man allegedly blocked a female employee behind the checkout counter and demanded money.

According to a release by the Iowa City police, officers responded to Romantix round 7:40 p.m. When they arrived, the suspect had fled the scene, the release said. The Romantix employee described the suspect as a heavy-set white male with facial hair stubble. She said he was between 30 and 40 years old, approximately 6 feet tall, between 215 and 250 pounds, and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. He allegedly had entered the store with his hood up and made small talk with the female employee as he moved closer to her, blocking her into the checkout area, according to the release. He then demanded she hand over the money in the register. After receiving the money, the man fled the store.

The release said officers searched the area but could not locate the suspect.

The female employee was not injured, though she was not sure whether the suspect had been armed or not. The release said surveillance footage of the store captured the suspect, who appeared to have white paint smears on his sweatshirt.

Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of this suspect.

— by Matt Starns