A man who borrowed $4 from an employee at a downtown Spokane motel returned to rob her with a hammer, police say.

Eric Kevin Miller, 36, was arrested on Friday, two days after police say he left his wallet at the Select Inn, 1420 W. 2nd Ave., for collateral after borrowing the cash.

He returned about two hours later and threatened the employee with a masonry hammer when she wouldn't return his wallet, according to court documents. He stole $100 from the cash register, police say, then went to Northern Quest Casino.

From the casino, Miller went to a woman's apartment, where they talked about the bible and he told her he'd robbed an elderly woman at the Select Inn, police say. The woman awoke to her TV missing, along with three butcher knives, $250 from her purse, her apartment keys and miscellaneous bills.  

Miller told police he traded the TV for methamphetamine, according to court documents.

Miller appeared in Superior Court Monday on a first-degree robbery charge and remains in jail on $50,000 bond.

---

---