The combination of a long duration and the absence of 
any accompanying 
supernova clearly shows that GRB 060614 can not be 
grouped into the two 
conventional classes of gamma-ray bursts, i.e. the 
long/soft bursts deemed to 
be collapsars and the short/hard bursts deemed to be 
merging binary compact 
stars. A new progenitor model is required for this 
anomalous gamma-ray burst. 
We propose that GRB 060614 might be produced 
through the tidal disruption of 
a star by an intermediate mass black hole. In this 
scenario, the long duration 
and the lack of any associated supernova are naturally 
expected. The 
theoretical energy output is also consistent with 
observations. The observed 9-
s periodicity in the $\gamma$-ray light curve of GRB 
060614 can also be 
satisfactorily explained.