By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—An armed robbery attempt of the Lee Branch Carmike movie theater was foiled when the theater assistant manager and a Good Samaritan sprung into action and stopped the suspect as he attempted to get away.

Hoover police officers and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an armed robbery at the movie theater, located on Doug Baker Boulevard, at 11:50 a.m. on Nov. 30. Upon arriving, law enforcement officers encountered the Carmike theater assistant manager and a Good Samaritan holding the suspect to the ground in front of the theater, a Hoover Police Department news release said.

According to the release, the assistant manager told officers the suspect entered the theater wearing a life-like mask, brandishing a gun. He allegedly demanded cash, escorted the assistant manager to the office and ordered him to open the safe.

The suspect allegedly took a large sum of money, placed it into a backpack and exited through the front door of the theater, walking toward the parking lot.

The assistant manager followed and tackled the suspect, disarming him while they were both on the ground. At that point the assistant manager realized the weapon was a BB gun, and he tossed it aside. He also ripped the mask from the suspect’s face.

A Good Samaritan leaving a nearby gym ran to the scene and assisted the manager in holding the suspect until law enforcement officials arrived.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant from the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office on Dec. 1.

Britton Clayton Traylor, 33, of Hoover, was subsequently charged with one count of first-degree robbery. He is being held under a $60,000 bond.

First-degree robbery is a Class A felony, punishable by up to life in prison upon conviction.