By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to La Quinta Inn & Suites last Sunday on reports of a robbery.

Upon arrival, officers met with the victim in the lobby, who stated that he was “set up.” The officers reported seeing swelling around his mouth, and his front teeth appeared broken.

The victim declined medical attention, and his injuries were photographed. He stated that he lives in Springfield, but spent the previous night at a friend’s house in Lawrence.

The victim said he began conversing with a female on the Snapchat app. During the conversation, the female provided the victim with her cell phone number to continue having a conversation. He then showed police his phone where the female invited him to visit her at the hotel located at 23 Cummings St., fifth floor.

The victim said he drove to the hotel the morning of the incident, and that the purpose of the trip was to “chill and smoke.”

The victim met the female in room 509. He said the two were “chilling by candle light and smoking blunts.” He also informed police that he had removed his clothing down to his t-shirt and boxers at this point, when there was a knock at the door and the female got up to open it.

The victim stated that a man came in the room asking him what he was doing with his wife, and began a physical altercation. During the altercation, the victim said he had this man pinned up against the wall, and then the female began striking him. While the victim attempted to defend himself, a second man entered the room and engaged in the altercation. At one point the second man reportedly had his hand in the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt and threatened to “light this XXX up”.

The victim believed this man had a gun in his pocket, and he told to the suspects that he wanted to grab his belongings and leave.

The victim said he was able to grab his sweatshirt and one shoe and began to make his way out of the room. One of the suspects threw his other shoe at him. He then made his way down to the lobby where he asked the staff to assist him, who subsequently called 911.

The victim told police that the suspects took $1,000 (consisting of 50, $20 bills), and an unknown amount of marijuana, his wallet, and his cigarettes. Most of his belongings were inside a small black bag.

While officers were interviewing the victim, the staff alerted them that the possible involved parties were exiting the hotel via a rear door and were walking around the back of the hotel.

Officers encountered the individuals on the side of La Quinta in the parking lot. One of the male suspects was subsequently identified as Deandre Towers. The female suspect identified herself as Cari Rene Jenkins.

Jenkins said that she was a visitor from San Diego, CA. Police asked Jenkins when she arrived and she stated, “I think yesterday.” I asked if she had rented a room at the hotel, and she responded, “I think I did”. When asked what transpired that day, she reportedly stated that she did not know. From that point onward, she responded with “I don’t know” to all of the officers’ questions.

Police learned that Towers was a truck driver who was preparing to travel south with a load in the morning. Towers’ truck was parked in the back of the hotel.

Towers reportedly told police that four males attempted to rob his wife, Jenkins, of her purse in the parking lot of the hotel.

Towers could not provide a description of the suspects but stated they appeared to be members of the Bloods gang. Both suspects denied being in the presence of anyone else. Towers stated they were staying in room 527 in the hotel. Police confirmed with management that 527 was vacant.

The officers determined that they needed to respond to room 509 and conduct a protective sweep for the third suspect who was possibly armed with a firearm. Staff provided police with a key card, and they knocked and announced their presence before keying into the room.

No suspect was located in the room, however while conducting the sweep they observed the candles that the victim described, fresh damage to the heater/air conditioner, a wall showing signs of a physical altercation, and a small bag that matched the description of the bag the victim claimed was taken.

The officers had the victim look out a window which was 15 feet away from the suspects. He reportedly stated, “Those are two of them.”

Once the identification was made, both Towers and Jenkins were placed under arrest on charges of armed robbery and conspiracy.

51, $20 bills totaling $1,020 was located in the right pocket of Towers’ clothing. The cash was seized as evidence and logged into the system.

Police informed the hotel management that a possible third suspect was still outstanding and if anyone attempted to enter room 509, they should call 911 immediately.