Law enforcement officers say victims have two responsibilities during an armed robbery

UPDATE 1/16: Colbert has been charged with robbery and armed criminal action.

UPDATE 1/15, 7:00 p.m.: Law enforcement officers said Monday that anyone involved in a robbery with an armed suspect has two responsibilities.

First, doing what the suspect asks you to do could save your life.

“No life or limb is worth whatever someone’s going to get out of that cash register,” said Centralia Police Chief Larry Dudgeon. “It’s not the time to be a hero.”

Most of the time, the suspect will want to get in and out with their loot as quickly as possible, so Callaway County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Curtis Hall recommends just following the suspect’s orders even if you’re armed.

“If, for some reason, someone has a CCW and they’re armed, they should not try to engage the person,” he said.

You’ll also want to focus on being a good witness. Dudgeon said you shouldn’t try to take photos or video on your phone, but instead try to remember everything you can about the suspect.

“Open your senses,” he said. “If you’re on the floor and the only thing you can provide is the kind and color of someone’s shoes, provide it.”

Victims can call 911. Even if they don’t talk, or it sounds like a pocket dial, if a dispatcher gets more than one call from the same location, they’ll dispatch law enforcement anyway.

UPDATE 1/15: Columbia police said the man they arrested in connection with a theft at Best Buy was Erik Demetrek Colbert, 28, of Fulton.

Police said they were first dispatched around 6:30 p.m. Sunday to 2001 West Worley, Best Buy, for reports of a hostage situation and robbery.

Officers found that Colbert went inside Best Buy and held an employee at gunpoint to steal items from the store, police said. They said Colbert then held a woman and her two children at gunpoint in order to escape. They said he made the woman help him carry the stolen items out to a vehicle.

Police said Colbert fled from Best Buy in the vehicle with the stolen items.

Police said no one was injured during the robbery.

Police said they found Colbert around 7 p.m. at Midway Budget Inn, after he stole a car at the motel. They said they took him into custody and he was later transferred to the Boone County Jail.

Police said they arrested Colbert for armed criminal action, first-degree robbery, kidnapping, felony stealing and fourth-degree assault.

UPDATE 7:48 p.m.: Columbia police took a man into custody at the Midway Truck Plaza in Boone County in relation to the theft at Best Buy.

Police were not able to confirm that the man was the one responsible for the armed robbery, but a sergeant said he and his car matched the suspect description.

The sergeant also said there was also evidence in the man’s gray SUV that suggested there was a connection to the Best Buy theft.

ORIGINAL 7:06 p.m.: An armed individual stole merchandise from the Best Buy on Worley Street around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, police confirm.

A sergeant said that people inside the store saw the man with a gun, but no one was injured.

The suspect, described as a black male, left the area in a gray SUV.

Police are interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage.

A Best Buy employee told ABC 17 News that there were at least 20 employees working at the time of the incident, and that there are 13 or more cameras inside as well.