An investigation into a stolen SUV ended up leading to a large narcotics and identity fraud bust at a high-rise hotel in downtown Atlanta, police said.
Last Thursday, officers tracked a stolen Nissan Armada to the valet parking deck at the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel, Atlanta police said in a news release. Police were able to obtain a search warrant for the room of the person who handed off the SUV to the valet driver.
While the warrant was pending, hotel staff told officers that a man was trying to get the SUV back from valet, the release said. The man was later identified as 34-year-old Kevin Earnest of Tampa, Fla.
Officers met with Earnest, who eventually admitted that he knew the vehicle was stolen, the release said. He was detained, and officers began to search the SUV.
A second man, identified as Johnny Ervin, 33, of Seffner, Fla., showed up and also tried to get the SUV from valet, leading to his arrest, police said.
By this point, officers had obtained the search warrant for the room and went there to investigate. Officers found Samantha Jo Inclima, 37, of Wimauma, Fla., inside and she was detained due to the other things police discovered in the room.
Police found crystal methamphetamine, heroin, nearly four dozen ecstasy pills, several glass pipes and nearly $24,000 in cash, the release said. They also found paperwork containing the personal and banking information of 45 people.
The trio face felony drug possession and identity fraud charges, according to Fulton County Jail records. Earnest also faces a theft by receiving charge in connection with the stolen vehicle, while Ervin has outstanding warrants in Florida.
The two men remained in jail Wednesday, while Inclima was released Tuesday on a $12,000 bond, jail records show.
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