NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) A U.S. Marine has been arrested on suspicion of trying to rob a pharmacy owner of cash in Okinawa, police said Tuesday.

Cpl. Anthony Massimino, 30, allegedly demanded in English that the 70-year-old male drugstore owner in the city of Okinawa hand over $20 at around 10:15 p.m. Monday, pretending he had a handgun, the police said.

Massimino denied trying to rob the man, the police said.

Massimino fled the scene in a car empty-handed after a store employee who was present at the time called the police, they said.

Officers found Massimino about 15 minutes later and detained him, the police said.