Motel Menace - Morris Man Terrorized Desk Clerks, Guest: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A Morris man menaced McDonough Street motel desk clerks, tried to snatch a woman’s purse and pulled a fire alarm Sunday night, police said.

Sean Becker, 27, allegedly made a nuisance of himself at the Red Roof Inn and the Budget Inn Express, hitting both establishments in a matter of minutes.

Becker started at the Red Roof Inn, police said, where he asked for a room despite having no money.

The clerk reportedly let Becker call an aunt and allowed him to wait in the lobby for her to get there and pay for his room.

While he was waiting, a 54-year-old woman walked in to get a room for herself. Becker asked her for money, police said, but she declined to help him out.

The clerk reportedly told Becker to sit back down as he was frightening the woman. But instead of taking a seat, Becker allegedly knocked everything off the top of the front desk — including a computer and credit card machine — grabbed for the woman’s purse and attempted to yank it away.

Becker succeeded in snapping the strap of the purse but failed to get it away from the lady, police said, and he ran off empty-handed.

But Becker only got as far as the Best Budget Inn up the street, police said. Once there, he again allegedly asked for a free room and when he was denied, again knocked everything off the top of the front desk. Becker also reportedly pulled the fire alarm at the Best Budget Inn.

Becker was arrested and taken to the Will County jail.