State Police have arrested a Lewes woman in connection with a robbery at a Rehoboth-area motel.The incident was reported around 4:15 a.m. Wednesday when a woman entered the Econo Lodge located at 19540 Coastal Highway and approached the 55-year-old male employee at the desk.
Troopers said the woman implied that she had a gun and demanded money from the register.
The male clerk informed the suspect that there was no money and walked into an office, locking the door behind him, and called 9-1-1. The woman then threatened to shoot the clerk through the door if he didn’t unlock it.
She then walked behind the counter and attempted to open the cash drawer. She then opened several drawers and removed over $400 in petty cash before the first trooper arrived on scene.
As the trooper entered the lobby of the hotel he told the woman that she was under arrest for the robbery, but she refused to comply to a command to place her hands behind her back. She was taken into custody after a brief struggle.
A search of the suspect, who was identified as Michelle L. Bloothoofd, 42 of Lewes, revealed her to be in possession of the cash she had just taken from the drawers, troopers reported.
Bloothoofd was taken to Troop 7 in Lewes where she was charged with Robbery 1st, Resisting Arrest, Terroristic Threatening, and Failure to Comply with Taking of Photo and Fingerprints. She was arraigned and taken to Sussex Correctional Institution on $28,000 secured bond.
