Police say a theft of only a few pennies ended with a man chased, tackled and pepper sprayed.
It happened at a gas station on Clearwater Road in Athens.
Surveillance video shows Rex Hicks walking into the store just before it closed. He pulled a knife on the clerk and demanded money, but when he couldn't open the register, he grabbed pennies from the counter and ran.
An officer quickly caught up with Hicks, who put up a fight. The officer wrestled him to the ground then pepper sprayed him.
Police credit the clerk for immediately calling for help.