The
”
silent scream
”
added a new level of fear to an armed robbery Saturday night at
the Courtyard Marriott on Madrone Parkway.
morgan hill
The “silent scream” added a new level of fear to an armed robbery Saturday night at the Courtyard Marriott on Madrone Parkway.
A man believed to be African-American was wearing the popular Halloween mask portraying “the Scream” in Edvard Munch’s famous painting when he entered the secure, employee-only area behind the front counter of the hotel at approximately 11:15 p.m. He approached the desk clerk, Joseph Rodriguez, from behind and threatened him with a pocket knife, according to Morgan Hill police Sgt. Jerry Neumayer.
The suspect demanded the keys to the safe, and then ordered Rodriguez to sit in a desk chair. Before opening the safe, the suspect bound Rodriguez’s hands and feet with duct tape and stuffed his necktie in his mouth.
After taking approximately $800 from the safe, the suspect ran out a rear exit, Neumayer said.
Rodriguez wheeled the chair to a conference room in the lobby of the hotel, where a scrap-booking club was meeting. The club members freed Rodriguez and called 911.
Officers Jeff Brandon and Luis Espejo responded to the scene, but despite a quick response, the suspect had plenty of time to make a getaway. Rodriguez was treated for minor injuries at the hotel and was not taken to the hospital. He identified the suspect as an African American male, approximately 6 feet tall, 230 pounds. He was wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans, the mask, Dallas Cowboy gloves and a chain necklace with a large leaf medallion.
Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact Detective Rod Krewson with information at (408) 776-7323.
