(credit: Handout/Suffolk County PD)

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – It may not have been a weapon of choice but rather one of convenience.

Suffolk County police say a Ronkonkoma man was arrested after trying to rob a 7-Eleven store in Central Islip Thursday night using a large tree branch.

Michael Zimmerman, 31, is accused of walking into the store around 11:30 p.m. and demanding money from the clerk.

After being denied, police said Zimmerman struck the clerk several times with the branch.

Police said Zimmerman took off on his motorcycle which was parked in the lot after the clerk fought him off but didn’t get very far.

An off-duty Nassau County police officer blocked the motorcycle after he saw Zimmerman being chased by the clerk and a small group of customers

The officer held Zimmerman until Suffolk County police arrived.

Zimmerman has been charged with robbery in the first degree.