Police arrest hotel employee, man in connection with Clarion Inn armed robbery

North Charleston police arrested and charged two people in connection with an armed robbery that happened early Tuesday at the Clarion Inn and Suites.

According to police, hotel employee Marissa Jackson, 23, of Patriot Boulevard drove Joshua Ekpunobi, 22, of Patriot Boulevard to the hotel to the commit the crime.

Police charged Jackson with armed robbery and Ekpunobi with armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, spokesman Spencer Pryor said.

Police responded to the inn at 3640 Dorchester Road shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday, Pryor said.

The hotel’s clerk told police she saw a man’s reflection as he walked from the back hallway toward the front desk.

Once at the desk, the man pointed a pistol at the woman and demanded money, Pryor said.

The woman gave the man the money in the front register, and the man also wheeled the hotel’s safe out on a cart before fleeing the scene, an incident report said.

The woman locked herself in a room and called police, Pryor said.

Jackson and Ekpunobi are expected in bond court at 2 p.m.

Reach Christina Elmore at 937-5908.