Five young males have been charged with armed robbery following an incident that occurred Saturday night in Columbia.

Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards said his department was called to investigate an alleged crime that occurred at Meadow Ridge Park shortly after 9 p.m.

“Two victims reported to Columbia police officers that while at the park, they were robbed at gunpoint by five white males,” Edwards said. “A description of the suspects, as well as their vehicle, was sent to surrounding law enforcement agencies.”

At 11 p.m., Columbia officers, with the assistance of Monroe County deputies, located and stopped the suspects in their vehicle on Hill Castle Road at Route 3. Officers located four of the five suspects in this vehicle. Those arrested were 17-year-olds Colin E. Morton and Paul M. West, both of Millstadt, along with two males from Columbia, ages 15 and 16.

 A fifth suspect was taken into custody early Sunday morning at a Millstadt residence by Columbia detectives.

Armed robbery is a Class X Felony punishable by a sentence of not less than six nor more than 30 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $25,000.

Read more on this alleged crime in the Nov. 13 print edition of the Republic-Times, on news stands late Wednesday  afternoon.