Posted Monday, February 25, 2013 --- 1:02 p.m.

Incident Report from the Madison Police Department:

Incident Type: Robbery

Incident Date: 02/22/2013 - 2:30 PM

Address: East Towne Mall

Arrested: Charles T. Jackson Jr., age 17, Madison
Mr. Jackson Jr. was arrested for Robbery.

Male, age 16, Madison
Teen was arrested for Party To A Crime of Robbery and Resisting/Obstructing.

Victim: Female, age 18, Madison

Details: An off-duty Madison Police officer jumped into action Friday afternoon, taking down two strong-armed robbery suspects following a foot chase through the East Towne parking lot.

Moments earlier, an18-year old woman said she was seated at a bench inside the mall, texting on her iPhone 4S, when one suspect began flirting with her. She was dismissing the unwanted advances when the second suspect grabbed her phone. Both men fled out of the mall, with the victim on their heels.

At that moment, a shopper, who happened to be an off-duty MPD officer, was trolling for a parking place. He saw the suspects dashing across the lot, with the victim trailing a good distance behind. He quickly ascertained from the victim what had happened.

The officer called 911 and put his department issued shield, which was on a chain, around his neck. He let dispatch know he was in pursuit of robbery suspects.

They eventually ran into a nearby restaurant, and an employee signaled to the off-duty officer that they were standing near the bathroom.

The officer, fearing innocent people may be in immediate danger, entered before backup had arrived. He got both suspects up against a wall. Both continued to reach down towards their pants, despite the officer telling them to keep hands where he could see them. The suspects were complaining their trousers were falling down.

They were also protesting about why they had been stopped. By this time the victim was also inside the restaurant and she told them why: “You took my cell phone,” she replied. One produced and returned it.

Back up officers arrived and the teens were arrested for the robbery.

The officer asked the restaurant employee how he knew to signal him. “I saw the badge around your neck and knew you were a cop,” said the witness. He said he was aware something was up when the suspicious-looking teens quickly entered and said: “He’s onto us! He’s onto us!”