Robber Hit Victim With Gun, Stole Cash and Goods in Parsippany Hotel, Cops Say

Three people have been arrested and charged with armed robbery and having a firearm after a guest at the Sonesta Suites in Parsippany said he was assaulted and robbed Monday afternoon, according to Parsippany Police.

Officers responded to the Interpace Parkway hotel at 1:46 p.m. Monday for a report of a robbery. When they arrived, the found the victim told police that a friend had just left the room and left the door ajar.

When the victim went to close the door, a man wearing a black ski mask forced his way into the room and knocked the hotel guest to the floor, police said. At the point the assailant went through the victim’s pockets and struck him on the head with a handgun before fleeing the room with proceeds, police said.

The victim’s wallet, approximately $300, an iPhone, iPad Mini, and Samsung Tablet were stolen, police said. During the investigation it was learned a Pontiac Grand Am left the hotel at a high rate of speed directly following the crime.

Parsippany Officer Damon Farms was on patrol near New Road when the fleeing vehicle’s description was made known. He then stationed himself near the New Road onramp to Rt. 280 East, and saw a vehicle fitting the description of the Pontiac Grand Am, police said.

Farms stopped the vehicle on Rt. 280 and was assisted by the Montville Police Department, East Hanover Police Department and New Jersey State Police.

Inside the vehicle police found Zakee Odom, 23, of Newark; Datisha Claiborne, 25, of Orange; and Jessica Lane, 25, of Newark. All three were placed under arrest and police found the following inside the vehicle:

• 108 pills believe to be Oxycodone
• 8.75 milligrams of Xanax
• 4 cellular phones
• Samsung Tableet
• iPad Mini
• $662
• 18 folds of heroin
• Loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol

All three were charged with possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose; using a firearm in commission of a robbery; armed robbery; conspiracy to commit robbery; possession of controlled dangerous substance; and possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.

All three are in the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 bail, each, with no 10-percent option. 

For questions about this post, email jason.koestenblatt@patch.com.