Teen Held In Killing Of Motel Clerk

A 17-year-old Moses Lake boy has been arrested in the kidnapping and shooting death of a motel night clerk.

Floyd Young was booked into the Grant County Juvenile Detention Center Wednesday night for investigation of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree robbery, police said.

Police were called to a Super 8 Motel after the morning clerk reported to work Tuesday and found night clerk Hazle B. Alston, 41, missing, police said.

Officers found no evidence of a struggle at the motel but discovered that an office cash drawer was missing, Sgt. Dennis Duke said.

Police found Alston’s body near a boat launch about 1-1/2 miles from the hotel. She had been shot several times, Duke said.

Young was arrested about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday near his home.

Assistant Moses Lake Police Chief Dean Mitchell said police believed the motive for the crime was robbery.

Mitchell declined to release additional details.