Southern Pines police are continuing to search for a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred this morning.

The robbery happened just before 9 a.m. outside a business on Pinehurst Avenue in Southern Pines. The suspect fled on foot, touching off a manhunt.

He was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing between 150 and 160 pounds. He was wearing a ski mask and a dark gray sweatshirt when the robbery occurred.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the man running through the parking lot of nearby Perry Brothers Tire Service. He was believed to have continued on foot through a sparsely wooded area and was spotted behind the Par 3 car wash on U.S. 15-501.

Police were also searching in an area behind Best Buy after receiving reports that the suspect may have crossed U.S. 15-501. Dogs have been called in for the search.

Police had few other details this afternoon.