2 arrested, 1 sought in Tampa motel robbery

By TBO.com
Published: October 26, 2009

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TAMPA --

Three men forced their way into a motel room, attacking another man and demanding his money and jewelry, police say.

Shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday, a 34-year-old responded to a knock on the door at Room 6 at the Hayes Motel on East Hillsborough Avenue. When he opened the door, three men forced their way inside and choked and punched the victim and struck him with an expandable metal pipe, an arrest report states.

When the victim ran, he was chased by Derrick Chase, 25, of New Port Richey, and Nicholas Lamanna, 26, of Tampa, police say. Chase and Lamanna struck him again several times, but he was able to escape to a Citgo gas station and call for help.

Police arrested Chase and Lamanna, who remained in jail today on charges including robbery-home invasion and aggravated battery. Officers are looking for the third suspect.

The victim suffered serious injuries to his face and lesser injuries to his body. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital.