Seedy Hotel--knock on the door at five AM

[Cosmoline]

Stayed at a seedy motel last night in the Spenard area of Anchorage. As usual I had my Ruger Security Six on the night stand and my Police Positive Special under the bed. The room is up a little flight of stairs and is isolated from the rest of the hotel--on the back side. I was half awake when someone knocked on my door. I got my Ruger out and approached the door, after another knock I asked who it was without opening the door. Mumbled response that makes me nervous--something like "I've got somethng for you." I wait. Another knock and I tell the person they need to leave right now. He says he's after "Dave" and I tell him he has the wrong room. He wanders off, and I look out the window to see a large guy with something under a towell walking away! Yikes! I'm glad I'm not "Dave"!

Now, in retrospect I'm looking for critiques and pointers. I didn't point the revolver at the door, but in a safe direction. Finger off the triger. It was loaded as usual. Should I have ever levelled it at the door, or taken cover? What about the chance of an AD, esp. that early in the morning?

 

[winstonsmith]

Well I don't know about gun safety, but I would have called the cops or at least the hotel night manager.

The first to protect poor Dave, and the latter because he/she has a right to know what's going on in the hotel.

BTW Cosmoline, check your private messages.

 

[Cosmoline]

I must admit calling the cops is my last reaction. I'm not sure what I would have told them, though, since nothing illegal took place. I would also be concerned that they would make me the target of investigation, as a wacko who has a revolver in his motel room. As far as I can see, it's best not to alert the authorities unless something illegal has taken place. But maybe I'm missing something.

I probably should have told the manager, but then again I get nervous telling anyone I have firearms.

That brings up another issue--I had no intention of telling this person at the door that I had a revolver. Is there any plus side to divulging this info. If the knock is innocent, the knocker might run off and call the cops. If the knock isn't innocent, and the guy is there to shoot me or "Dave" or whoever, telling him I'm armed isn't going to give me any tactical advantage I can see.

It shows I replied to that question in my in box, BTW. Let me know if you didn't get a response and I'll resend.

 

[foghornl]

Having BTDT, I called the manager, but did not inform mgr that I was armed. Mgr called the constabularly, who questioned said person...who had just recently held up the local 24-hour stop-n-rob.

Never hurts to call the front desk when you get an unexpected visit. You did OK, though, since you were prepared.

 

[TarpleyG]

My wife and I were relocating to FTL from Dallas 3 years ago. Our last overnight stop was in Jacksonville. Being on a budget, we had to stay in budget motels. I had just taken the dogs out to do thier "duty" before retiring. As soon as I got back in the room, someone raggedy looking guy knocked on the door. He knew I was in there because I had just closed the door. We kept quiet and he kept asking for someone whose name I don't recall. Eventually he went away. We just assumed he was a bum/drunk looking for someone that had been in that room previously (lovely thought, I know) and left it at that.

The whole time, I had my gun in my hand. I slept with it VERY nearby.

GT

 

[Wildalaska]

Hey Cos I live in Spenard..I think you will find that the cops are real smypathetic to a "norm" calling in a problem with one of the local skells. I also think that they wouldnt give a hoot about the fact that you had a gun. Besides why tell them.

As to critique, you did ok. Keep in mind that Spenard wackos are usually just drunks and lowlifes.

WildinthejungleAlaska

 

[CWL]

Having stayed in my share of seedy locations, I try to reinforce the door with hotel furnishings overnight. Since the room is typically small, I have often been able to wedge a chair or table behind the door & against the bed or passage wall.

No one will be able to force open that door easily, and certainly will give you time to wake up & prep as best as possible.

Not much you can do if they jump thru window though.


On the other hand, don't go shooting thru that doorway unless you are sure.

I have, in my youth, banged on a hotel door early in the AM demanding to be let in. I was returning from a drunken bachellors party and had gotten the wrong room (and floor). Eventually wandered away.

 

[Ron_Miami]

"Dave's not here, man!"
Remember the Cheech and Chong comedy skit? I would have had to do it

I've stayed at lots of seedy motels and someone knocking on the wrong door is not uncommon.

I remember once I had trouble getting into a motel room, I had the right room number but the wrong motel! Drinking at beach bars was an adventure when I was younger.

 

[ElToro]

whenever me and my gal go on a road trip, usually to tahoe, i stay in the cheapest place i can find. Maybe im just gambling with my safety.. but ive seen some real scuzzos, but my girl always feels safe when i pull out the S&W 442 & Surefire for the night...i like the heavy DA pull. its the gun i keep when i go camping or to a cheap hotel. seen some weird stuff at "regular" hotels as well though...

 

[CMichael]

You should have alerted the police.

 

[Cosmoline]

To report what, though? All I know is that some scary guy was knocking on my door. I saw no weapon and he made no clear threat. It is possible there was somebody in that room the night before who'd given him booze or money.

 

[Felonious Monk]

No report necessary. You did the right thing.
Nobody else needed to know.

"Love work, hate domination, and do not let your name come to the attention of the ruling powers."
-- The Talmud, "Sayings of the Fathers"

 

[mpthole]

You did the right thing IMO. On the gun issue, its not illegal in the US (expcept maybe DC, CA, NJ, NY, etc) to have a firearm in a hotel room because it is considered your temporary residence.

 

[Glamdring]

Well I work at a hotel part time.

I would say that calling first is an iffy thing, really depends on the hotel and the staff at the hotel at the time of the event. I would go to the door first like you did, not open it but check it out.

When I'm working 3rd shift (most of the time) all the doors are locked and someone needs room key to get into hotel. I usually have a good idea of who belongs (is paying for a room or visiting someone who is) and who doesn't.

But if some of the high school kids are working who knows what they will do if someone calls?

Almost always people banging on your door either have wrong room (even sober lots of people can't keep numbers straight) or it is employee that has a problem (could be weather, fire, noise, water leaks, etc).

When I travel I try to stay with friends and family as much as possible. MUCH better than any hotel IMO. Well the family I will stay with anyway

When I do stay in a hotel I always block bottom of door with towel (wedge it in tight) this will stop door from opening quickly. I also put furniture in front of it (mainly to slow someone down cause I usually have to be real exhausted before I can sleep in a hotel). The locks in a Hotel are NOT secure. Don't trust them.

 

[CMichael]

Cosmo I call the police when I see something suspicious. A few weeks ago there was a black van circling around. I called the police and they said that they would send a cruiser to check it out.

I think the police would rather prevent a crime then come after there is a dead body.

Perhaps it was nothing but there is nothing to lose by calling the police and letting them check it out. It's their job.

 

[Scout.308]

Just the facts, Ma'am.

Cosmo,

I learned the hard way to not discuss with police whether or not I'm armed. I'm staying quietly in my room, so until the shooting starts, it's irrelevent.

What has worked for me has been to call and be calmly factual. "I'm soandso, staying at the soandso motel, Room X. Somebody just pounded on my door, demanding to be let in and asking for 'Dave'. His description is soandso. He's carrying something hidden under a towel. I don't know what it is. Just thought you'd want to know." They'll appreciate the info, will tend to take you seriously, and will probably send a patrol, unless the evening is very busy already.

No suppositions, no guessing about his motivations or plans, just the facts. No irrelevent info about you, you are not the problem here. The police can decide whether they want to investigate or not, and you've done your civic duty.

 

[Cosmoline]

The problem is trust

I just don't trust the police well enough to report something like this. What's stopping them from investigating me? Nothing at all. From arresting me? Nothing at all. I have no authority to prevent them from doing either, so why risk it?

As I see it, no good can possibly come from calling the police and a lot of bad things might happen.

Thanks for the tips about room safety, though. I like the towel idea.

 

[spacemanspiff]

spenard born and raised! remember back in the day when every house along spenard was a massage parlor? and the Spenard Community Patrol videotaped everyone who picked up a prostitute? didnt they post license plates and photos in the paper?

cosmo, what you doing spending the night in spenard for? which hotel was it?

wildalaska, which end of spenard? lakeside, midtown? just wondering if were next door neighbors...

 

[RandyB]

just my .02 worth. Notifying the police. "Hey some mean looking guy just knocked on my door looking for some guy named Dave." may or may not make a difference in yours of someone elses life, but hten again it might. Letting the police have the imformation though might make a difference. I would not go around "and I was armed" when making the report. I have never lied to an officer when asked, (of course here in Indiana, its not generally a 'big deal' where I live.) about being armed, but I do not have to volunteer the information either.

 

[Cosmoline]

I was at the scenic "Spenard Motel", a run-down but well priced hotel. I sometimes stay in town to avoid my brutal commute to the valley and back.

 

[spacemanspiff]

isnt that the one that had the night clerk who had a shoot out with a robber? was a couple years ago, and i may have the details mixed up.

i live a few blocks away, other side of the tracks. at least you have easy access to drugs and whores right there.

 

[Keith]

Pointer: Check out the "Sourdough" outside the back gate of Elmendorf. It's nearly as cheap as any dive down in Spenard, but clean and safe and roomy and comfortable.

Interesting tips about wedging towels under the door and stuff like that. I'd have never thought of that! I stayed at some dump down there in Spenard not far from Gwinnies (sp?) because the Sourdough was full. I had missed the evening plane to Kodiak.
I had about a dozen people knock on my door through the night and I'd have to chase them off. A couple of them didn't want to leave and said stuff like "I'll just wait out here until you're done..." I told them they could wait all night, but if they came through the door they'd have to face a .45!

When I questioned the clerk the next day she told me that the "new guy" had given me a room that was supposed to be reserved for a "regular customer" - some woman who rented that room every weekend... Ick! I took a very long scalding hot shower when I got home and still felt dirty.

Keith

 

[hutch24]

Parts of the Spenard area are always interesting. I've stayed at the Puffin Inn a couple times and it wasn't too bad, at least noone banged on my door at 5 am.

 

[Oracle]

One other thing: I'd make sure I had a good flashlight as well as a handgun. Especially since it's an unfamiliar environment, you might not be able to get the lights on as fast as you might need to. I've stayed in some of the scarier hotels, and I really doubt those doors would hold up to any kind of a determined assault.

 

[yzguy]

I think the police would rather prevent a crime then come after there is a dead body.

maybe, but the problem is they have no power to prevent crime, only to attempt to capture and punish the bad guys AFTER they commit one.