A man accused of fighting with a store clerk then robbing Cumberland Farms at 49 Pine St. early this morning was arrested by Portland police following a car and foot chase.

George Palmer, 41, was charged with robbery, theft, assault, driving drunk, driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest, police said.

Palmer is accused of confronting the store clerk with a blunt object at 3:35 a.m. The two fought and eventually Palmer was able to compel the clerk to give him cash out of the register, police said.

Palmer fled in a car and police spotted it soon afterwards on Forest Avenue.
The car, which had stolen license plates, crashed into parked cars as the driver tried to escape, police said. Palmer ran but police caught him.

The car had been stolen from South Portland, police said.

Palmer was taken to Cumberland County jail.