A Brookhaven man was arrested Thursday on a strong armed robberycharge by the Brookhaven Police Department.

Andrew L. Townsend, 25, of 1955 Toy Dr., was charged with theTuesday robbery of the B B Discount Foodmart, located at 640 EMonticello St. He allegedly took an undetermined amount of cashafter walking into the store around 10:30 p.m. and demanding moneyfrom the two clerks working that night, said Brookhaven PoliceDepartment Chief Pap Henderson.

“They thought he was just playing because he was smiling atfirst,” Henderson said. “They thought he was playing until hegrabbed one of the clerks by the arm, and then they realized he wasserious.”

The clerks opened the cash register, and the suspect left withthe money.

“The suspect never said he had a weapon or displayed a weapon,but he had his hands in his pocket,” Henderson said. “That’s why wecharged him with strong armed robbery.”

The man had entered the store earlier that day, so the clerk wasable to give a good description of him, Henderson said. Thedepartment produced a photo line-up, from which one of the clerksidentified the suspect.

“We had an idea Tuesday who we were looking for, but theemphasis was really put on him Wednesday morning,” Hendersonsaid.

The department found Townsend Thursday night walking down GrennStreet toward Carver Heights and arrested him, he said.

Henderson commended his department and the people of Brookhavenfor their help in the case.

“I’d like to put the emphasis on the good work of our officersand the great help by the citizens of this town who were able toassist us with information,” Henderson said.