Armed robbers hold up employees at Roswell Publix

Roswell police have charged four men in connection with the armed robbery of three grocery store employees.

Investigators said it happened just after midnight Monday outside the Publix on Rucker Road as the store’s manager and two employees sat in their cars outside the store.

”A red Blazer came up to them, said Roswell police spokeswoman Lisa Holland.  ”The passenger jumped out of the truck, ran up to them with a beer bottle and said he was going to kill them.

Holland said the victims complied and gave up their cellphones, wallets and purses.  When the suspects fled, she said the victims drove two miles to a Taco Mac restaurant on West Crossville Road and called 911.

”We had one of our officers in the area who found the guy. Not many cars are on the road in the part of town at that time of night, so it was easy to spot, Holland said.

Officers arrested Alexis Martinez, Luis Laredo and Charlie and Ricardo Tavera on numerous charges, including armed robbery and aggravated assault.  Police said they recovered all of the victims’ items and no one was hurt.

A Publix representative declined to comment on the case or about how the employees were doing after the robbery.  A man who runs a nearby business told Petchenik it’s a very quiet area and he’s never had trouble there.

”It conces me.  I think overall people are getting a little bit desperate. My wife has been telling me I ought to get some protection, said Erik Johnsson.