MONTEZUMA — The Dairy Queen, at 212 N. Dooly St., was robbed shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday. Two suspects were taken into custody less than 24 hours later.

According to Montezuma Police Chief Eric Finch, upon officers’ arrival at the Dairy Queen, they were met by store employees who stated that a white male, approximately 6 ft. tall, had entered the store with a hand gun and demanded money. The employees told police that when the gunman entered the store, they left the store through the drive-thru window and then notified E-911.

They said the gunman left the store without taking any money, ran behind the Budget Inn Motel where a getaway car was waiting and left. The car was described as a burgundy-gray type SUV possibly, a Chevrolet product. A BOLO was placed on the vehicle to all area law enforcement agencies.

Finch said, "I am glad that no one was hurt in this incident. The ladies working in the store used quick judgment and this possibly saved their lives.”

Police officers received several tips, spoke with several witnesses and obtained some video evidence. Finch said, "My officers did an excellent job on following-up on this case. They worked all the tips and obtained as much information they could to pass on to our detectives. I received a call the next the morning with the name of one of the suspects, and I was able to pass that on to our detectives, and around 3 p.m. Thursday, we were able to go into briefing and decide the best approach to serve our search warrant."

However, while the Montezuma Police officers were in a briefing session, a Macon County Sheriff’s deputy spotted one of the suspects in Ideal, and notified the Montezuma Police Department. Officers were dispatched to Ideal, where they arrested Josh Joe Shiver, 18, of 1592 George Hammock Road, Ideal. Shiver was transported to the Macon County Jail and the vehicle he was driving — a 1991 Chevrolet Blazer — was seized as evidence as the get-away vehicle. Officers of the Montezuma Police Department also arrested Christopher Jason Cordell, 18, of 303 Poplar St., Ideal. Both Shiver and Cordell are charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm in commission of a crime, and two counts each of aggravated assault.

Finch said, "This is the type of crime we as law enforcement officers talk to children about, when one suspect enters a business and rob it and the other one serves as the get-away driver. Both are being charged with armed robbery.”

The police chief said that nothing was taken in the robbery attempt and the store was open the next day for business.

Finch said, "I would like to thank the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Chief Ronald Jackson of the Marshallville Police Department, Lt. Cedric Duncan, Sgt. Rina Coy, K-9 Officer Frank Ellenberg, Officer Jennifer Bailey and Officer Fransciso Alvarez, and the community for helping us solve this case so quickly."