Police respond to armed robbery at America’s Best Value Inn

Columbia police are searching for a suspect after an armed robbery at America’s Best Value Inn on Providence Road near I-70.

Police responded to a robbery in progress call around 9:40 p.m. Monday.

Investigators say the suspect walked into the hotel and demanded money from an employee. Officers say he was armed with a handgun.

Police do not have much of a description because his face was concealed at the time of the robbery. They know he was a black male, approximately 5’8″, wearing the t-shirt over his face and was last seen wearing a long sleeve shirt, shorts and tennis shoes.

The suspect fled the scene on foot, but he may have gotten into a vehicle at a later time.

Police had a search perimeter set up in the area of Garth and Texas avenues and the Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted the search by bringing in a K-9 unit. However, the track was unsuccessful.

The investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Stay with ABC 17 News and abc17news.com for details.