Young Women Arrested for Hotel Robbery

Two young Newark women were arrested in connection with robbery of a Delaware hotel where they were staying.

Samantha Townsend (19) of Broadfield Drive and Barbara Filer-Epps (20) of Blue Hen Ridge are accused of robbery, assault, conspiracy, wearing a disguise during a crime and a weapon charge.

Around 4:45 a.m. Sunday a woman with a mask partially covering her face demanded money from the overnight clerk at the Howard Johnsons Hotel on South College Avenue, Newark Police said.

The accused thief, later identified by police as Townsend, was armed with a knife and allegedly cut the 22-year-old male clerk multiple times during a struggle that ensued, cops said.

The clerk suffered cuts to his hand and shoulder that required hospitalization, cops said. He was treated and released.

Townsend allegedly made off with an undisclosed amount of money from the cash drawer and fled the office.

The clerk recognized Townsend as a woman who was staying in the hotel. Police found Townsend and Filer-Epps as well as evidence that allegedly linked the women to the crime in their hotel room, police said.