Cedartown police are interviewing a suspect regarding an early-morning robbery at the Bee Rite convenience store on Adamson Road, according to officials.

Bradley Welchel, 18, of Cedartown is in police custody, according to Cedartown Assistant Police Chief Jamie Newsome.

Welchel is facing charges of armed robbery, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and obstruction.

Officers first received the call shortly before 5 a.m., according to Newsome.

Newsome said multiple male suspects were involved and Welchel was captured shortly after the incident with the use of the K-9 unit. Police confirmed two suspects in the incident, but have not ruled out additional suspects, Newsome said.

While more details will be released later after the completion of the interview, Newsome said some details have been confirmed.

The men had parked a car near the old Zartic building behind Bee Rite and walked to the store, Newsome said. Welchel and one other man, both armed with a gun, walked into the store and robbed it of an undisclosed amount of money, according to police.

The clerk was not harmed and no shots were fired at the store, Newsome said.

The two men attempted to walk back to their car after the robbery when a Polk County police officer, who had just received word of the incident, spotted them and recognized the description.

Cedartown officers were relayed the information and both the city and county units began pursuing the men on foot.

The city K-9 unit was called and the dog tracking resulted in Welchel’s arrest, he said.

The Rockmart Police Department and Aragon Police Department also responded to back-up assistance in the search, according to Newsome.

There was a rumor of shots fired, but both Newsome and Polk County Police Chief Kenny Dodd confirm that no police officer fired a weapon and no one was injured in the incident. The investigation is ongoing on whether the suspects fired a gun, Newsome said.

Newsome could not confirm at this time whether the money was recovered.

He said this incident proves that law enforcement from different agencies can, and should, combine efforts in criminal situations.

“This is one more example of Cedartown Police Department and Polk County Police Department working together,” he said.

Dodd echoed Newsome’s comments.

“It’s very beneficial to have the mutual aide agreement. It’s really the only way we can be effective,” he said.

Newsome also said this incident shows how a K-9 unit is helpful in closing cases quickly.

“What money Cedartown spent on the K-9 team paid for itself last night,” he said.

“The officers said there is no doubt that he would not have been apprehended last night without the assistance of a dog.”