SALEM, IL — Salem Police arrested 53-year-old Christopher Melton in connection with an attempted aggravated robbery at the Salem Holiday Inn. Police say Melton came into the lobby Wednesday night wearing a puffy coat and mask, and then he pointed what looked like a small firearm at the clerk and gestured toward the cash register. The clerk retreated, and Melton fled on foot. He was later seen in a vehicle by a deputy. After a high-speed chase, Melton’s car was pulled over, and inside it officers found a lot of drug paraphernalia. A search led to the discovery of the jacket and gloves he was believed to be wearing during the robbery attempt along Blair Street. The investigation is ongoing. Melton by the way, is a former employee of the hotel, so he was likely pretty easy to identify.