Police Detain Three in Robbery, Beating at Motel
Posted/updated on: December 4, 2011 at 5:53 am
LONGVIEW — Police have arrested three people in connection with the November 1 robbery and beating at an east Longview motel. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, authorities are holding Jordan Lynn Garrett, 21, and Eric Eugene Christian, 30, on $50,000 bond. Garrett is charged with robbery and Christian charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A third suspect, Candace Lynn Cranford, 25, was arrested Wednesday on a criminal trespass charge. According to Longview police, all three suspects were identified by a victim and witness to a robbery and assault at the American Dream Inn, in the 2000 block of East Marshall Avenue.
Longview police on November 1 spoke with two men, including Victor Villasenor, who said that he met a prostitute later identified as Garrett at one of the motel rooms. Garrett then called another woman, later identified as Cranford, to the room, according to arrest affidavits. Later in the evening, Villasenor noticed $300 was missing from his pants. When he confronted Garrett and an argument ensued, Christian entered the room along with Villasenor’s friend, Miguel Gonzales, who was in the parking lot. Christian hit Gonzales several times in the face before jumping into a vehicle with the two women, records showed. Christian then retrieved a tire iron and approached Gonzales and Villasenor again, but Villasenor retrieved his tire tool from his vehicle. Christian then got back into his car and left the motel.
A witness, who arrived at the motel and was unloading groceries during the assault, identified Christian and Cranford in photo line-ups, according to Gregg County Assistant District Attorney Stacey Brownlee. Garrett, of Gilmer, was arrested Tuesday at the Palace Inn in the 2100 block of East Marshall Avenue. Christian was arrested November 17 and remains jailed on $57,500 bond, also charged with outstanding warrants for possession of a controlled substance and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Bond had not been set for Cranford at last report.
