Two suspects wanted in connection with a bait and tackle shop robbery near Lay Lake in Chilton County on Sunday were apprehended and transferred from the Shelby County Jail into the custody of the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department Monday afternoon.

Lt. John Shearon of the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department said he and fellow investigator Shane Fulmer picked up William Earl Brakefield, 31, of McCalla and April Kromer, 28, of Shelby County at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department on Monday afternoon.

He said the two have been charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree theft of property and second-degree criminal mischief. Bond was set at $65,750 each for both suspects, Shearon said.

He said the two were arrested in connection with the early Sunday robber of Nell’s Grocery on County Highway 55 in Chilton County where an undisclosed amount of money was taken.

Shearon said no weapon was used in the robbery but that a &uot;gun&uot; was referenced.

The search for the suspects

ended shortly before noon Monday when they were taken into custody in the wooded area of the Westover community, said the Shelby County Sheriff’s officials.

According to Chief Deputy Chris Curry, around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, the suspects led Shelby County officers on a high-speed chase, then abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot into the woods near the intersection of county roads 51 and 55.

Shelby County and Chilton County deputies, Harpersville and Vincent police as well as a tracking-dog team from the Department of Corrections searched well into the night to no avail.

On Monday morning, a resident in the Westover area saw a man fitting the description of a suspect getting water from a privately owned pond.

Based on the information, a perimeter was established and a dog-tracking team quickly picked up the trail. A helicopter from the Alabama Sate Troopers provided air support for the search.

Curry said the suspects were captured by members of the Department of Corrections Dog-Tracking Team.

&uot;The information we received from an alert citizen was crucial to the resolution of this situation. With assistance from the Department of Corrections and State Troopers, these individuals were taken into custody without incident. We are grateful for all the assistance provided to us by local and state agencies as well as the residents of the area,&uot; he said.

Curry also reported that the suspects were evaluated by Westover Rescue and treated for minor scratches, exhaustion and dehydration before being turned over to deputies.

Sheriff County Sheriff James Jones said when the suspects were apprehended, &uot;There was no fight left in them.&uot;

He also said, &uot;We did not find a weapon on them.&uot;

The sheriff acknowledged, however, that money was found on the suspects.

Jones said the suspects were located within three quarters of a mile of their vehicle.

&uot;We believe they were not familiar with the area.&uot;

While the search was in progress, the male suspect was

described as white, about 33-years-old, 5-feet-11-inches tall weighing 180 pounds with brown hair and eyes, last seen wearing shorts and no shirt. The female suspect was only described as having blonde hair. Shearon said the apprehension of the suspects was a joint effort and

expressed appreciation to Shelby County, Vincent, Harpersville and Bibb County law enforcement