Two men were arrested after developing a plan to fake the robbery of a Greenwood motel and pocket the cash.
Just before 5 a.m. Wednesday, police were called to the Red Roof Inn, located at 110 Sheek Road, on a robbery report.
Jason Albin, the night clerk, told police he went outside to take out the trash when a man ran up to him and demanded money. Albin told police the man knocked him down, and then forced him into the motel office to empty the cash drawer and then ran off, according to the police report.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
A man staying at the hotel told police he saw a man walking toward the office and heard him yell, “Give me the money.” The man was wearing a mask, dark clothing and a green bandana, with a tattoo on his face.
Police found a man matching that description at a home about a mile away, the report said.
The man, Jeffrey Rynard, told police he and Albin are friends, and that Albin told him to fake the robbery at the motel and they would split the cash, the report said. He also showed police two calls on his cellphone from Albin, the report said.
Rynard told police Albin told him where the money would be in the cash drawer and that it had been prepared to deposit, the report said.
Police confronted Albin, who said he knew Rynard because they are both gamers and that he had called him earlier to talk about a video game, the report said. Albin denied what Rynard said happened, the report said.
Both men were arrested and taken to the Johnson County jail, and police are continuing to investigate, including reviewing surveillance camera footage.
Rynard, 26, 720 Wooddale Terrace, Apt. 8, Greenwood, was arrested on a charge of theft. He was held on $1,200 bond.
Albin, 24, 602 Nicole Drive, Apt. B, Greenwood, was arrested on a charge of theft and false reporting. He was held on $2,400 bond.
