Hotel guest refuses to leave, prompts 12-hour SWAT standoff, cops say

Marvin Fernandez was arrested after allegedly refusing to leave a hotel and triggering a SWAT standoff in Gwinnett County. (Credit: Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office)

Marvin Fernandez was arrested after allegedly refusing to leave a hotel and triggering a SWAT standoff in Gwinnett County. (Credit: Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office)

A guest’s refusal to leave a Gwinnett County extended stay hotel triggered a 12-hour SWAT standoff, police said.

The incident started Wednesday afternoon at the Araamda Inn in the 5900 block of Oakbrook Parkway.

Marvin Fernandez, 39, asked to return to his room to retrieve his belongings after the staff told him he was trespassing, police said.

But “as he entered the room,” Gwinnett police Cpl. Michele Pihera said, “he locked himself inside.”

Management at the hotel called 911.

A SWAT team arrived when the guest allegedly told police they would have to bust down the door to get him out and that he had a gun, according to Channel 2 Action News.

The hotel was evacuated.

SWAT officers sprayed tear gas in the room to end the standoff, the news station reported.

No one was injured and the Araamda Inn resumed business as usual.

Fernandez faces theft of services and criminal trespass charges, police said.

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