Whitehorse RCMP are asking for the public's assistance in identifying the suspect in a foiled robbery attempt last weekend.

At around 3 p.m. Saturday, a young man attempted to rob the Fas Gas station on Burns Road, across from the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport.

The suspect threatened the clerk with a can of bear repellant, according to police, and said, "This is a robbery.”

The suspect then sprayed the employee.

The employee managed to avoid the brunt of the bear spray, then wrestled the can out of the suspect's hand and chased him out of the store.

The suspect attempted to grab cash from the till during the altercation, but was unsuccessful, according to police.

The suspect fled the scene on an old, grey mountain bike.

He is described as a 17-year-old caucasian male, about 170 cm (5'5”) tall. An eyewitness told police the bike the suspect was riding looked too big for him, a police spokesman said.

The employee who was sprayed did not have to go to the hospital.