Myrtle Beach motel worker held at gunpoint by masked man, tied up with room’s bed sheets

An employee at a Myrtle Beach motel was held at gunpoint and tied to chair using bed sheets from a hotel room, according to a police report.

Elijah Edwin Barker, 39, was arrested by Myrtle Beach Police for armed robbery, kidnapping and possessing a weapon during a violent crime.

Police responded to The Viking Oceanfront Motel, 1811 S. Ocean Blvd., at 12:30 p.m. March 20 for a report of an armed robbery.

When police arrived, the victim said he was checking rooms for security issues when he discovered a room with a deadbolt fastened that was supposed to be unoccupied, according to a police report. The victim unlocked the room and went inside but was unable to turn on the light. He then walked to the bathroom to turn on the light and after exiting, came in contact with the suspect who had a gun pointed at him.

The victim told police that the man had a mask and was dressed in all black, except for his shoes which were bright and multicolored.

The suspect then ordered the employee to sit down in a chair or that he would kill him, the report said. He tied him to the chair using bed sheets and then took his car keys, vehicle and $25 in his wallet.

The suspect told the employee not to leave the room until after five minutes and then he left, taking the victim’s vehicle.

Police later found the suspect near the victim’s vehicle in a parking lot. The victim’s keys and money were found on the suspect, the report said. The gun was located near the vehicle.