Police have arrested a suspect in a robbery and arson at a Lake Wales motel that left the motel manager in critical condition.
John McMullen, 35, was arrested Tuesday in Donaldson, Louisiana, by detectives who were investigating a theft at a local store.
McMullen was wanted in connection with the robbery and arson, which happened Saturday morning at the London Inn Motel on U.S. 27.
Lake Wales police said Harikrishna Patel, 59, was tied up, attacked, and robbed of his wallet, keys and jewelry. Police said the suspects then set fire to some clothing and threw it on the couch, then stole Patel's 1998 Toyota Camry.
According to the Lake Wales Police Department, Ascension Parish deputies pulled over McMullen, who was driving the suspect vehicle from the theft in Donaldson. That suspect vehicle was identified as the 1998 Toyota Camry stolen from Patel, police said.
At some point during the traffic stop, shots were fired at one of their deputies.
After an extensive search, deputies said McMullen was arrested at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies also took Jennifer D. McGhee, 27, and Chadwick Schwender, 27, both of Lake Wales, into custody.
Police said McMullen has an extensive criminal history that includes a sentence for grand theft and attempted burglary. He was released from Florida State Prison in April 2014.
A motorcycle that was stolen that night from the motel's parking lot was found Tuesday in a room at the motel. Police said they are working to determine whether the incidents are related.
Anyone with information about this is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.