Employees and a customer at a local auto parts store say they prevented an armed robbery Saturday night.

According to Cullman City Police Chief Kenny Culpepper, officers responded to an armed robbery call just before 9 p.m. at O’Reilly Auto Parts on 2nd Ave. S.W. Culpepper said when officers arrived at the scene, employees and a customer had already subdued the would-be robber.

“The employees and the customer did a great job,” Culpepper said.

Allen Lee Marty, 51, of Cullman was arrested and transported to the Cullman County Detention Center on charges of attempted armed robbery.

O’Reilly Store Manager Rex Wilborn said he when he walked into the office he saw a man dressed in camouflage holding a gun. Wilborn said Marty went to raise and aim the gun and that is when he grabbed it and began wrestling with him.

Wilborn said he called out to his co-worker, assistant manager James Dingler, for help. He said Dingler ran to the back and did a “flying sumo tackle” on Marty.

“Honestly I don’t know where I would be without James and the customer,” Wilborn said. “I don’t know his name, but I should and I’m sorry, but thank you. I appreciate them very, very much.”

Dingler said he was letting the last customer out when he heard Wilborn cry out. Dingler said he and the customer both ran back and held down Marty until Wilborn could get the gun away.

“If he (the customer) wouldn’t have been there it would have been a lot harder to get him (Marty) under control,” Dingler said. “I am just glad he was here.”

Dingler said Marty was carrying a fully loaded .22 caliber automatic rifle, with one round chambered. Culpepper would not confirm the type of weapon used.

Both Dingler and Wilborn said Marty was one of their regular customers. Dingler said when he asked him his name, Marty replied, “James. You know me.”

Marty is currently being held at the Cullman County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash bond.