ZIONSVILLE, IND.—The Subway sandwich chain said Tuesday that it’s suspending its relationship with Jared Fogle due an investigation involving the chain’s well-known spokesman.

The statement from the company says Fogle continues to co-operate with authorities and that he expects “no actions to be forthcoming.” It said both sides agreed suspending the relationship was “the appropriate step to take.”

The statement came after FBI agents and Indiana State Police raided Fogle’s home earlier Tuesday, removing electronics from the property and searching the house with a police dog.

FBI Special agent Wendy Osborne said the FBI was conducting an investigation in Zionsville, an affluent Indianapolis suburb, but wouldn't say whether it involved Fogle or describe the nature of the investigation.

Subway removed two prominent sections from their website, both entitled ‘Jared’s Journey’, on Tuesday. Links to Fogle’s latest news and commercials and the Jared Foundation both redirected to subway.com.

“We are shocked about the news and believe it is related to a prior investigation of a former Jared Foundation employee,” Subway said in a statement.

“We are very concerned and will be monitoring the situation closely. We don’t have any more details at this point.”

The executive director of the Jared Foundation, Russell Taylor, 34, was charged in Indianapolis on federal child exploitation and child pornography charges May 4, the Indianapolis Star reported.

At the time, Fogle said in a statement that he was “shocked to learn of the disturbing allegations against Mr. Taylor. Effective immediately, the Jared Foundation is severing all ties with Mr. Taylor,” the Star reported.

Fogle, wearing tan shorts and a dark T-shirt, was photographed early Tuesday by The Indianapolis Star stepping out of a police evidence van parked outside his home.

“Jared has been cooperating, and continues to cooperate, with law enforcement in their investigation of unspecified charged and looks forward to its conclusion,” Fogle attorney Ron Elberger said in a statement. He noted Fogle has not been charged or arrested.

An armed officer with a badge on his belt briefly stepped outside Fogle's house wearing a blue T-shirt reading, “U.S. Postal Inspector Police,” then went back inside.

Fogle, 37, became the Subway restaurant chain's pitchman after shedding 245 pounds more than 15 years ago, in part by regularly eating Subway sandwiches. Subway began featuring Fogle in commercials soon after, and his story was instrumental in giving the sandwich chain an image as a healthy place to eat.

He has since worked to create awareness of childhood obesity through his Jared Foundation.

Calls to Fogle's home went unanswered Tuesday.

WTHR-TV and The Indianapolis Star reported Fogle was detained while electronics were removed from the home and analyzed inside a mobile forensics van Tuesday morning.

Neighbours said the family entertained frequently and would say hello but that they didn't see Fogle and his wife outside a lot.

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Jacob Schrader, 19, who lives across from Fogle's house, said the pitchman seems “like a pretty private guy” and that he'd only seen him about a dozen times in the last five or six years.

“He's like an endangered species or something like that,” Schrader said.

Subway, which is based in Milford, Connecticut, and is privately held, has struggled in recent years. Last year, industry tracker Technomic said average sales for Subway stores in the U.S. declined 3 per cent from the previous year. The company has about 44,000 locations around the world.