2 detained after armed robbery sparks police chase in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Fla. — An armed robbery at a Melbourne Verizon store Wednesday sparked a police chase, authorities said.

Melbourne police tweeted that the robbery happened on the 900 block of Wickham Road.

They said two masked men tied up store employees and had fled the store, and that they were pursuing the suspects on U.S. 192.

Officers said the suspects nearly hit a semi-truck while eluding police.

"They went inside, they tied up the occupants of the store, they took some items (and) they took off and fled," Cmdr. Dan Lynch said.

Police then tweeted that the vehicle was stopped with a pit maneuver and a felony stop was in progress.

They said two suspects were detained.

Drivers were warned that the chase was almost to Osceola County and stop sticks were placed at the county line.

Police had asked Harmony High School to be placed on lockdown due to the police activity surrounding the incident, but then police clarified and said the chase never made it that far.

No other details were released.

Cox Media Group