LEWISTON — Two local men were arrested early Tuesday morning on robbery charges after two pedestrians reported being accosted and threatened if they didn’t hand over their money, police Lt. Marc Robitaille said.

Neither pedestrian was hurt and neither gave up their money, he said.

Police were not releasing the suspects’ names late Tuesday night because they had not completed the investigation.

Robitaille said the first incident occurred on College Street behind the Central Fire Station. A Sun Journal newspaper carrier was approached by two white males in baseball caps who threatened to slit his throat with a knife unless he handed over money. No weapons were displayed, he said.

The carrier managed to hold the two off with an umbrella and ran to the Oak Street parking garage where other carriers were getting their newspapers, the lieutenant said. The carrier called police at 2:36 a.m.

Within minutes as police rushed to the area, Robitaille said, they saw two white men in baseball caps trying to drag a person into the Park Street alley. They detained the two and determined they were likely connected to the robbery on College Street reported four minutes earlier.

Robitaille said the victim of the second incident told police the two chased him down on Lisbon Street near Ash Street and threatened to beat him and break his jaw if he didn’t hand over money.

The two suspects were arrested and taken to the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn, each charged with two counts of robbery, the lieutenant said.