A tense situation at The Econo Lodge on Richland Avenue West on Thursday ended with the arrest of a local man who reportedly threatened and held two women hostage in one of the hotel’s rooms, according to Aiken police.
At approximately 9:46 a.m Thursday, two officers were dispatched to room #121 following a call from the hotel owner who reported a disturbance. The caller indicated that a man in the room might be armed and asking for help.
Upon arrival, the officers were informed by the hotel owner that the suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Joseph Satterwhite, of Warrenville, could be carrying a firearm. The female resident of the adjacent room also reported hearing threats from inside the room, including threats to kill everyone, a police report says. She described hearing Satterwhite say he was keeping the occupants of room #121 hostage.
“(Satterwhite) demanded the victim to notify the clerk she did not need help when the clerk telephoned the room to check on the victim,” a warrant says.
When the officers approached the door and identified themselves, a female opened it and Satterwhite stepped forward. The officers drew their firearms and ordered Satterwhite out of the room. He complied with all commands and was found to be carrying a coyote brown and black Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number.
Inside the room, officers spoke with two women. One explained that she had previously been in a six-year relationship with Satterwhite, but they had separated in mid-July. On the day of the incident, she had invited the other woman to visit her at the hotel. She said when she attempted to leave the room, Satterwhite forcibly pulled her back inside, brandished a firearm, and threatened to kill them both if they tried to leave.
Satterwhite later admitted to law enforcement that he had tracked down his previous girlfriend after discovering she was not staying where she had claimed. He confessed to entering the room and confronting her about alleged infidelity, but denied threatening the women or pointing the firearm at them.
As a result, Satterwhite was arrested and charged with domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, burglary in the first degree, kidnapping, weapon possession, and possession of a handgun with an obliterated serial number.
He was transported to the Aiken County Detention Center for processing.
