NATCHEZ — The phrase, “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” gained a whole new meaning Saturday morning when a man was allegedly robbed at gunpoint, Police Chief Mike Mullins said.

Morris L. Malone, 28, 211 Wood St., Fayette, is charged with one count of armed robbery after he allegedly tied a man up with the victim’s own bootlaces, pointed a pistol at him and robbed him of his cell phone and a small amount of cash at 1 a.m. Saturday at a motel on the 200 block of D’Evereux Drive, Mullins said.

Ashley N. Williams, 25, 16 Roundale St., and Victoria D. Carr-Jones, 28, 631 East Stiers Lane, who are each charged with one count of armed robbery, are believed to have accompanied Malone in the robbery, Mullins said.

A warrant has been put out for Marquita Thornburg, who is also believed to have been involved with the alleged incident.

Mullins said the victim reported that he knew Malone prior to the robbery, and Malone and the females came into his room, then left and returned a while later to rob him.

No bond has been set for the suspects, Mullins said.