VALLEY — A Lanett man was arrested Wednesday on robbery charges after he broke into an insurance agency and stole money, according to a news release from the Valley Police Department.

Curtis Dale Brooks, 57, was charged with first-degree robbery and later booked in the Chambers County Jail.

According to police, at about 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, officers were called to Alabama Insurers’ Office, located at 4903 23rd Blvd, due to a robbery that has just happened. Officers learned the suspect entered the business with a handgun and forced employees to the ground and after taking an undisclosed amount of money, he left.

When detectives arrived on the scene, they found evidence the suspected dropped during the robbery and told officers to look for a maroon 2007 Chevy Colorado vehicle. Police say about five minutes later, a Chambers County deputy attempted to stop the vehicle on Highway 50 and Broad Avenue in Lanett. The vehicle tried to outrun the vehicle, and four minutes later, the suspect stopped in the 900 block of South Jennings Avenue and tried to run away on foot.

Police say the deputy gave chase and deployed his Taser to subdue the suspect and take him into custody.

Valley detectives went to the scene and recovered clothing items from the suspect as described by the employees at the insurance agency and the stolen money.

Further charges may be pending for Brooks at a later date, police say.