A couple of would-be robbers came up empty-handed around noon Wednesday, Nov. 30.

The two suspects, reports said, attempted to rob Fred's in the Cherokee Plaza shortly before noon. They fled without any goods and immediately ran into officers from the Centre Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff's Department and Cedar Bluff Police Department.

Arrested, according to Centre Police Investigator Arlon Reed, were Jimmy Elijah Shepard, 22, who was charged with armed robbery in the first degree, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia,carrying a concealed weapon and illegal possession of alcohol. Also arrested was Martin Flint of Cedar Bluff who was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, illegal possession of prohibited liquor and unlawful possession of marijuana in the second degree.

According to Reed, Shepard allegedly walked up to a cash register in Fred's around 11:55 p.m. Wednesday and demanded money. The cashier said the suspect attempted to make a small purchase and then pushed a note across the counter which demanded that the cashier put all the money in a bag. When the cashier refused to hand him the money, he made the purchase and then walked out the door. A Fred's employee chased the man outside where a truckdriver saw the chase and followed the man around the back of the building. The truckdriver saw him escape in a 1995 Monte Carlo, driven by another man.

Law enforcement agents were quickly alerted and caught the pair at a residence near the intersection of Alabama Highway 9 and Cherokee County Road 65. Making their aborted get-away in what Centre Chief Val Courtney said he thought was a stolen vehicle, they got only about a mile down Highway 9 before encountering Cedar Bluff Officer Jason O'Neal, who had been on his way in to Centre when he heard about the robbery. O'Neal forced the car into a driveway and the suspects offered little resistance.

No injuries were reported, Reed said.

"They were apprehended thanks to the joined efforts of the Cedar Bluff Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff's Department, Centre Police Department and the District Attorney's Office," said Reed.