MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – A heavy police presence was reported at the Hampton Inn in Meridian around noon on Tuesday after officers responded to a 911 call regarding an altercation in which a weapon was pointed at a hotel employee.
According to Acting Captain Dareall Thompson of the Meridian Police Department, two suspects will be formally charged, with warrants expected to be issued on Wednesday.
When police arrived at the scene, the suspects attempted to flee from the back of the hotel but were taken into custody without incident. Following an investigation, officers uncovered additional evidence in the suspects’ hotel room, prompting a decision to evacuate the building in collaboration with hotel management.
A U-Haul truck parked in the lot was also searched as part of the investigation. Thompson noted that this incident is unique, and he mentioned that outside agencies have expressed interest in the suspects.
Thompson extended his gratitude to several agencies that assisted during the operation, including the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Homeland Security, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Jackson Police Bomb Squad, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Meridian Fire Department.
“This is an ongoing investigation,” Thompson stated. “We appreciate the cooperation of the hotel manager, staff, and customers during this situation.”
Following the resolution of the incident, business at the hotel resumed as usual.
More details are expected to be released tomorrow.
