By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Lead Reporter - Salina Post
Early yesterday morning, while staying at the Airliner Motel at 781 North Broadway Avenue, a man reported to Salina Police Department (SPD) officers that two men had entered his room, beaten him and stole some personal items before leaving.
SPD Capt. James Feldman said that a 23-year-old man reported that at about 2:30 a.m., the woman he went to meet at the motel let in a 44-year-old masked man into their room armed with a handgun.
"A black male wearing a ski mask and armed with a handgun entered the room," Feldman said. "He pointed the gun at the victim, made him lie down... and once he lied down, he was struck multiple times in the head, and then the second subject entered the room and took property from him."
Feldman said the second subject allegedly took the victim's wallet and car keys. SPD officers withheld further information on the amount of cash or type of car keys until further investigation was complete.
Once the second subject took the items, the two men and the woman the victim met at the hotel left. The 23-year-old victim contacted SPD officers and reported the incident around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 18.
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Later the same day, Feldman said a Saline County Sheriff's Office deputy patrolling the area of North Seventh Street and West Pacific Avenue saw a man matching the description of one of the suspects from the motel.
"He took off running and ended up throwing a backpack but was later caught in the area of Seventh and Hamilton," Feldman said. "A K-9 located the tossed backpack, and inside was a handgun and some marijuana."
Law enforcement authorities identified the suspect as 44-year-old Antwon Pierce from Salina, arrested him and requested charges for kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, criminal possession of a weapon, interference with law enforcement, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The victim described the woman as a 5 feet 4 inches tall with dark hair and did not have a good description of the second suspect. The kidnapping charge stems from the act of forcing the victim to lie down while taking the property.
SPD officers continue the investigation.
Salina Post will update the story as more information becomes available.