Early Tuesday, Franklin County deputies called on the public to help track down a man who robbed the Red Roof Inn on West Broad Street in Prairie Township. Surveillance footage shows the suspect walking up to the front desk, demanding money and then taking off. Investigators say no one was hurt and the case remains under active investigation.
Video Shows Suspect Demanding Cash
According to WTTE, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office released the surveillance video of the robbery around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. The station reports the suspect is a heavyset Black male wearing glasses, a black jacket, a black cap and a face mask. The footage shows him implying he had a gun before fleeing in a dark-colored SUV. Detectives are asking anyone who recognizes the man or the vehicle to come forward.
Where It Happened And Who To Call
The robbery happened at the Red Roof Inn at 4530 W. Broad St., according to the hotel's official listing. Per the Franklin County Sheriff's Office public information pages, tips can be directed to the Detective Bureau at (614) 525-3351. Investigators say the case remains active as they work to put a name to the face seen in the video.
Why Officials Released The Footage
Law enforcement often pushes out surveillance images early in an investigation to stir up leads, and authorities said the goal here is exactly that, to jog a witness's memory. WTTE reports the sheriff's office shared the suspect's clothing description and the dark SUV details to give the public a better shot at recognizing the person in the clip.
How To Help
Anyone with information is asked to call the Franklin County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau at (614) 525-3351 or use the department's online tip options listed on its website. Tips, including anonymous submissions through the sheriff's reporting page, can help move the case forward.
