NEWPORT — Police have arrested a Newport resident in connection with thefts at a local hotel and a business.
Michael Cornell, 33, was arrested and will face charges of robbery and burglary.
On December 17, police responded to a report of a robbery at the Newport Inn and Suites on East Main Street.
Responding officers were told a man had approached an employee, demanded cash, and claimed he had a gun.
The suspect left on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police say minutes before the robbery occurred, a person called the hotel to ask whether it accepted cash payments or could provide change.
On January 15, police responded to a report of a break-in at Pure PC Repair on Western Avenue, where again the suspect took an undetermined amount of cash.
Following the review of surveillance footage and an anonymous tip, Newport Police identified Cornell as a possible suspect and interviewed him as part of their investigation last week.
Cornell later called Newport police and allegedly confessed to the Pure PC Repair break-in.
Newport Police determined that the phone number Cornell used to call the department matched the number of the caller in the Newport Inn and Suites robbery, leading to the additional charge.
Cornell was lodged on $10,000 bail and will be arraigned tomorrow in Orleans District Court.
