BANGOR, Maine — A local motel clerk early Monday morning kicked an alleged robber in the chest, punched him in the face, put him in a chokehold and slammed his head into the floor before the suspect loosened his grip on a knife.
Details about the thwarted robbery at Bangor Inn and Suites on Hogan Road were made public Wednesday in a police affidavit after Scott A. Murray, 32, of Warren made his first court appearance at the Penobscot Judicial Center by video from the county jail.
The Bangor Daily News is not naming the desk clerk because he is a victim of a crime. A woman who answered the phone Wednesday at his residence said he declined to be interviewed.
Murray is charged with robbery, a Class A crime, and violation of a condition of release, a Class E crime. He was not asked to enter a plea because he has not yet been indicted by the Penobscot County grand jury.
Information about why Murray was on bail when the alleged robbery occurred was not available late Wednesday.
The suspect first approached the desk clerk about 1:12 a.m. Monday and said, “I want all your money,” the affidavit said.
Murray allegedly was holding a knife but did not point it at the clerk.
“[The desk clerk] laughed at the male and stated 30 dollars is not worth it and [told him] to leave,” the affidavit said. “The male did not leave.”
Instead, Murray allegedly walked behind the desk clerk and into the office. He took the keys off the desk, opened the safe and took two green money envelopes from inside it, the affidavit said. That is when the desk clerk kicked the suspect in the chest, eventually subduing him on the floor, when Murray let go of the knife.
“[The desk clerk] grabbed the knife and put the knife to the suspect’s throat and stated, ‘Do not move til Bangor police gets here,’” the affidavit said. “The male did not move and complied with [the desk clerk’s] demand to stay still.”
Police took Murray into custody after he was treated by an ambulance crew for superficial injuries due to the fight with the desk clerk.
District Court Judge Gregory Campbell set bail at $30,000 cash.
Bail conditions include that Murray have no contact with the desk clerk and not return to the motel.
Murray remained Wednesday night at the Penobscot County Jail unable to post bail.
He is next due in court on Dec. 13.