Woman beaten, robbed at Merced motel

Merced police on Thursday released descriptions of two people suspected of beating and robbing a woman earlier this week inside a motel room.

The victim, a 32-year-old woman, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries around 1 a.m. Wednesday after a man and woman punched her several times and stole $300 in cash, a laptop computer and a cellphone. The robbery was reported at the Siesta Motel, 1347 W. 16th St., Sgt. Robert Solis said.

“She was visiting a person in a room and said she was planning to rent a room herself, so he took out $50 cash and that’s when she was assaulted,” Solis said.

One suspect was described by police as a white female in her 20s, about 5-foot-5, with a medium build and orange-dyed hair. The second was described as a Latino male in his 20s, about 5-foot-7, with a medium build, black hair and brown eyes.

Police have investigated more than 100 crimes at the Siesta Motel over the past three years and 19 people were arrested for prostitution in three undercover stings in the past two years, authorities said.

The Merced County District Attorney’s Office in September filed a formal nuisance abatement action against the motel owners. District Attorney Larry Morse II called the motel “a hub of prostitution” and said the owners needed to make numerous building improvements aimed at reducing crime.

Police said the owners have cooperated and officers have seen fewer crimes there in recent months.

This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Woman beaten, robbed at Merced motel."