Two Brookhaven men were arrested Wednesday night in connectionwith an alleged armed robbery at a North Jackson Street conveniencestore, said Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson.

Rashand Smith, 20, of 1539 Crump Lane, has been charged witharmed robbery and Kenneth Brothern, 32, of 1224 Union St., has beencharged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, Hendersonsaid.

The incident occurred as an employee at City Mart No. 2 waslocking up the door for the night, the chief said.

A man “came around from the side of the building and approachedhim and put a gun in his face,” Henderson said. The victim fell tothe ground and gave up his wallet.

The gunman then ran south on North Jackson Street, possiblyturning west on Vivian Merrit Street, Henderson said.

Officers got a description from the victim of a black male witha slender build wearing a light blue shirt or sweat suit top andconverged on the area.

Two officers approached a man fitting the description standingbeside a vehicle on Fred Walley Drive a short while later.

When the man, later identified as Smith, saw the officersapproaching he ran onto Union Street and entered a wooded area,Henderson said. Smith was found a few feet away from a light blueshirt, the chief said.

“We haven’t located the weapon yet,” Henderson said. “We didrecover the victim’s wallet at the site where he broke andran.”

Brothern was arrested at the vehicle, Henderson said.

Henderson complimented his officers on their pursuit of thesuspect and said the victim’s description of the assailant madeclosing the case much easier.