By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

CLAWSON — Police say a disgruntled employee and her boyfriend attempted an armed robbery at the Super 8 Motel in Clawson, and the pair now faces charges that carry a maximum of life in prison.

Joshua Thayme Perkins and Amanda Justine Phillips, both 21 and of Royal Oak, were arraigned on armed robbery charges on Nov. 19.

Lt. Scott Sarvello of the Clawson Police Department said it is believed that Perkins entered the Super 8 Motel, 1145 W. Maple Road, at 11:15 p.m. on Nov. 15 with a gun in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other. He told the 20-year-old female clerk behind the desk to fill the bag with money, but instead the worker ducked into the laundry room nearby.

Perkins attempted to get into the locked office, but couldn’t. He fled the lobby and workers called police, Sarvello said.

Employees told investigators that they suspected that Phillips, who worked the midnight shift at the motel, might be involved. When questioned, she admitted to her role in the robbery, Sarvello said.

“She said they did it to scare her co-workers,” he said.

Police then apprehended Perkins, who was living on Chester Avenue in Royal Oak with Phillips.

In interviews, Perkins told police that the attempted robbery wasn’t a prank — as Phillips had indicated — and that they were in fact looking to get money. The gun, recovered by police, was a fake painted black to appear real.

Sarvello said Phillips was having problems at work, having been disciplined only a short time ago.

“She had been suspended for a night or two,” he said.

There was no specific reason why co-workers thought Phillips was involved other than a hunch, Sarvello said.

“For some reason they had a hunch, and it worked well for everyone,” he said.

Phillips and Perkins were arraigned on the charges in 52-4 District Court in Troy. Phillips was let go on a $25,000 personal bond, while Perkins was held on $100,000 cash bond.

“He has a prior record out of Virginia,” Sarvello said.

The record includes prior felonies, including burglary, he said.

Both are expected back in court on Nov. 24 for a pre-exam in Troy.