Quick response and good police work resulted in the Laurel Police Department making arrests in connection with a Wednesday night armed robbery.

Officials announced Thursday that within three minutes after an armed robbery at McAllister’s Deli located at 1106 Sawmill Rd. Laurel’s police officers had two people in custody.

Jarvis Byrd, 19 of Laurel and Janarrus Gandy, 19 of Laurel have been arrested by the LPD and charged with armed robbery.

According to police, officers received a call just after 11 p.m. Wednesday and responded to the area. Within three minutes, police were able to take the suspects into custody.

Lt. Robert L. Morris commended the officers on his patrol shift for their swift actions in regard to the incident.

“We were able to apprehend the suspects within two blocks of the business,” Morris said. “The whole shift did a great job.”

Morris said Officer Michael Tolbert took the initial call and was the first officer to arrive on the scene. However, the lieutenant said, all officers on the shift responded to the call.

Sgt. Michael Reaves said “apparently the individuals approached the manager and robbed him at gunpoint.”

According to reports, the suspects fled the scene on foot “heading toward Hudson Salvage.”

“We were able to capture the suspects in the 500 block of North 13th Avenue,” Morris explained. “Myself, Adam Cochran, Terrance McGill, Cynthia Robertson and Joey Decuir were the initial people involved in the arrest, then the rest of the officers arrived. We were able to take the suspects into custody following a short foot pursuit.”

Officials said evidence recovered in the incident, include an undetermined amount of money believed to have been taken from the restaurant.

Laurel Police Chief Walter “Bear” Martin and Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack praised the officers for the quick and efficient job.

“This is just a testament of what the Laurel Police Department’s Patrol Division and Investigative Division can do when they work together,” the police chief said. “They did an outstanding job and we are proud of everyone.”

Deputy Police Chief Tyrone Stewart also expressed his feelings.

“These guys are out there everyday protecting our city,” Stewart said. “This just shows that we operate a professional police department and not a security company.”