Police: Suspect calls police but refused to answer door, floods hotel room

MIDVALE, Utah — A man flooded his hotel room after calling 9-1-1 and refusing to answer his door Saturday morning.

In the arresting documents, 54-year-old Donald James Lake Pelton called 9-1-1 twice and requested help at the Days Inn at 7251 S., Cottonwood Street at 10:52 a.m.

When police arrived at Pelton’s room, he refused to open the door, talk to officers, or explain why he called 9-1-1. Officers were cleared from the scene and left.

However, according to the documents, the fire department called responding officers back to the hotel because of a fire alarm alert at the hotel.

During their second response, officers noticed a substantial amount of water outside of Pelton’s room. They attempted to contact him, but he refused to answer.

Hotel management asked officers to break down the door to prevent further damage. After entering the room, officers took Pelton into custody without further issue.

According to the documents, the floor of the hotel room was flooded, and the fire alarm was broken off the wall. There was also water damage to the room’s ceiling, walls, electronics, and the door.

The rooms next door also had water damage because of Pelton’s actions. The property owner estimated that Pelton caused $17,000 worth of damages, which includes repair and possible loss of income from being unable to rent out Pelton’s room and the adjacent rooms.

Pelton was booked for criminal mischief causing loss exceeding $5,000, abuse of reporting an emergency, disorderly conduct, and calling a false alarm.