(L to R) Maria Torres, Timothy Towsel, Denzel Freeman
SANTA CRUZ — Police arrested three suspects on Sunday morning after they tried to rob two people who went to a motel to watch an exotic dancer. Arrested were 20-year-old Denzel Freeman, 20-year-old Maria Elena Torres, and 18-year-old Timothy Towsel.
Early Sunday morning, two unidentified subjects made arrangements to watch an exotic dancer at a motel room on the 600 block of Riverside Avenue after answering a Craigslist ad.
Once they reached the hotel room, they were met by Torres, who took their money and asked them to wait while she went to get her friends. When she left, two men entered the room. The victims asked for their money back, at which point one of the suspects pointed a handgun and said they intended to keep the money.
After escaping the situation, the two victims called police. Officers set up a perimeter upon arrival and located Freeman and Towsel still on the property. Torres was still in the hotel room.
Officers are still looking for another suspect, who they believe escaped with the weapon. Freeman was taken into custody on charges of armed robbery, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy to commit a crime. A vehicle on the property, found to have been stolen out of Sacramento, was also connected to Freeman. Torres and Towsel were booked for armed robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime.
