Crossville Police apprehended a Harriman man suspected of robbing the Waffle House early this morning.
The suspect, identified in a CPD news release as 31-year-old Jonathan William Beard, was found hiding in the attic of the Red Roof Inn near the 48 Executive Dr. restaurant. He fell through the ceilings of three separate hotel rooms before police apprehended him, the release said.
Police were alerted at 12:55 a.m. today of a robbery in progress at Waffle House. Officers first on the scene were told a male armed with a folding knife had assaulted two female employees by striking them and hurriedly left with $388 in cash.
Witnesses told police the suspect ran in the direction of a wooded area nearby. Police then received a call from the Red Roof Inn that the suspect was possibly in that building and found Beard in the attic, which he accessed through a utility room door, the release said.
“Once located, the suspect began throwing money at the officers, refusing to comply with officer’s commands,” the release continued. “Less lethal options, including pepper spray, bean bags and a taser [sic] were used to extract the suspect from the attic.”
Police recovered $381 upon Beard’s apprehension, the release said. Damage to the hotel rooms was estimated at $30,000.
Beard has been charged with aggravated robbery, burglary, two counts of aggravated assault and four counts of vandalism.
Crossville Police asks the public to call 931-484-7231 with any information related to this incident.
The department also thanks the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for their assistance with the investigation.