A Gastonia convenience store clerk wasn't going to give up any money to a would-be robber without a fight.

When an armed man entered Southern Convenience Store at 861 N. New Hope Road late Friday and demanded money, clerk Guillermo Troncoso responded by hitting him on the head with an aluminum baseball bat, according to Gastonia police.

"I knew I had to take care of the business," Troncoso said Saturday. "This is like my home."

As the man drove away, Troncoso also broke a few of his car windows, which led police to a suspect on Saturday.

Gastonia police Sgt. Jeff Clark said that when police went to serve unrelated involuntary commitment papers at a Gastonia residence, they noticed a car that fit the description of the Mercury Cougar used in the robbery. When they went inside the home, Clark said, they found Randall Scott Strait, 47, of Gastonia asleep with his head bandaged.

"He made a couple comments inside the house like 'The guy grabbed my gun when I went to get money,'" Clark told WCNC-TV, the Observer's news partner. "So sometimes, you know, you get more than you bargained for when you go in to do something that's not quite right."

Clark said Strait faced charges of attempted robbery, possession of a weapon by a felon, and hit and run. He has prior convictions for burglary and being in possession of stolen property in Gastonia, Clark said.

Strait was taken to the hospital for his wounds and will be taken into custody after he is released.