UPDATE:

Police have released the man they previously arrested in connection with the robbery of Village Pantry this morning.

Ramaro Barnes, 20, of Elkhart, is still considered a person of interest, police said.

Samara Wiley-Williams, the 22-year-old woman arrested on a preliminary charge of fleeing police will also face a robbery charge, police said.

12:07 PM:

Two people were arrested after the Village Pantry was robbed this morning, thanks to a vigilant off-duty police officer.

Officers arrested Ramaro Barnes, 20, of Elkhart, on a preliminary charge of armed robbery and 22-year-old Samara Wiley-Williams of Elkhart on a preliminary charge of fleeing police, according to a press release from the Elkhart Police Department.

Two people wearing dark-colored sweatshirts and ski masks allegedly robbed The Village Pantry, 1500 Toledo Road, around 1:15 a.m. today. One was armed with a handgun, according to police.

An off-duty officer happened to be in the area with his squad when the report went over the police radio. He saw a white car with three occupants pull out of Woodwind Apartments at a high rate of speed, police said.

The officer initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued and led police on a short pursuit.

During the chase, the vehicle stopped and the female driver got out, police said. The car then continued fleeing from officers.

The car eventually crashed in an alley off of Morehouse Avenue. Police located one of the occupants and arrested him.

The clerk working at the store reported the suspects robbed cash from the business and ordered one of the customers to the floor and stole his wallet, police said.

This case remains under investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division.