Jemarkus PittmanNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Police said witness descriptions helped lead to the arrest of a man charged in two overnight hotel robberies in Donelson.
Jemarkus Pittman, 35, was charged with aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license.
Pittman allegedly tried to rob the La Quinta Inn on Atrium Way at 12:30 a.m. He approached the clerk, and threatened that he had a gun in his pocket. The clerk refused his demands and the suspect fled in a maroon Ford Taurus.
Police released surveillance video of his robbery of the Alexis Inn a few minutes later. In the video, the suspect entered the lobby, put a knife on the counter, and demanded money.
He fled the scene with approximately $350. The clerk hit the silent alarm, then went to get a description of his vehicle, which matched the earlier description given police.
"I would not have been that brave had he had a gun. I told police you'd have been picking up a puddle off the floor. But I can outrun a knife, I can't outrun a bullet," said hotel clerk Mickey Matheny.
An officer spotted his car at the Drake Motel on Murfreesboro Road around 4:30 a.m. He was taken into custody and positively identified by both victims as the robber.
Police said they found the knife used in the crimes and a crack pipe in the Taurus.
Pittman is also a suspect in Tuesday night's robbery of the same La Quinta Inn on Atrium Way. Police said the suspect in that case matches Pittman's description. In that case, the robber also displayed a knife and fled with cash from the scene.
