THOMSON --- Three men wanted in a string of local armed robberies were arrested by local and state authorities Saturday after a brief manhunt in a wooded area in McDuffie County.

Torrence Marquis Haskell, 19; Thomas Bernard Patterson, 19; and Derrick Stubbs II, 21, were being held in the McDuffie County Law Enforcement Center.

Acting on a tip by Warren County sheriff's Deputy Sammy Purvis, officers went to an apartment at Walton Village off Mesena Road, near Thomson's city limits, at about 3:30 p.m. Police say the suspects, wanted by four law enforcement agencies in a series of armed robberies at convenience stores in McDuffie and Richmond counties, fled from a rear door. They were captured after a brief foot chase.

"We were just waiting for these guys to hit again, and it is a sigh of relief," said Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Lt. Scott Peebles.

The capture brought the number of arrests in the case to five. Richmond County deputies arrested Jocques Dickerson and Julian Johnson, both 18, last week.

Mr. Haskell, Mr. Patterson, Mr. Stubbs and Mr. Dickerson all face armed robbery charges in Richmond and McDuffie counties, including for robberies at a Circle K on Washington Road in McDuffie on July 23 and at a Sprint Food Store in Thomson on July 21. Mr. Johnson isn't charged in the McDuffie cases.

Two other people were taken into custody during Saturday's manhunt. McDuffie County sheriff's Investigator Larry Adaway said Rolo Hanson, who lives at Walton Village, was jailed on an unspecified charge. Authorities also arrested a female, believed to be a juvenile, who police say was carrying two of the suspects' clothing, allowing them to elude authorities, Investigator Adaway said. Investigators wouldn't name the juvenile or say what charges she might face.

Staff Writer Meg Mirshak contributed to this article.