Hotel Maid Saw Something, Said Something

 

Maven Hotel Coors Field DenverThere is no ongoing threat…

I want to extend a very heart felt thank you to a very alert, very astute, and properly trained staff member and the set of employees at the Maven Hotel who saw something and said something.

If you say something, say something.

We are thankful for the swift, and very diligent, and professional manner in which [the Denver police] responded on Friday as well. . . . Without disrupting the festivities . . . the police moved in and abated a pretty serious situation. 

This is an active investigation.

— Denver Mayor Michael Hancock

Because a hotel maid at a swanky downtown hotel, one block from Coors Field, saw something and said something immediately, we possibly are not reading about another horrible event like the mass murder of a Las Vegas concert crowd.

Sources said police removed 16 long guns, body armor and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition from the room which featured a balcony overlooking the downtown area. The sources said they feared the number of weapons, ammo, vantage point and large crowds could have resulted in a “Las Vegas-style shooting.”

Based on the information provided by the hotel employee, police executed a search warrant and found the guns, ammo, body armor and a man inside the room on the eighth floor.

One of the suspects arrested Friday night had posted a message on Facebook referencing a recent divorce and saying he was going to “go out in a big way,” according to the multiple law enforcement sources.

The annual Major League Baseball All-Star game had been moved by the woke MLB, out of leftist hatred for moderate election integrity laws in Georgia. The almost all-White MLB executives* took major money away from a majority Black city and gave it to a majority White city, where Blacks are underrepresented.**  The suits had to be thankful All Star weekend that Denver at least has a Black mayor, like Atlanta. 

The Denver mayor said all the right things and seems a competent city leader. Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen gave a brief, professional update. He revealed they obtained two search warrants for two rooms. The four arrests were mostly for felons in possession of firearms. He reemphasized the local, state, and federal authorities had a well-developed plan for preventing or responding to threats during major events.

The Director of Safety praised the Denver Police Department for working with the public. 

This is how our system is set up. This is how our police department can really work with the public.

We prepare for these type of incidents. . . . You have the best of the best in the police department in Denver City and County.

Notice that the city officials refused to comment on motives and did not address the alleged Facebook post. As one reporter noted, it seemed a very strange hotel location for a drugs-for-guns deal. That reporter got a careful non-answer. The police chief confirmed both weapons and narcotics were seized, but would not confirm or deny any possible motive. He emphasized “we are not aware of any ongoing threat.” He also would not say just what the staff saw. Whoever talked about a Facebook post, it was not the Denver leadership.

For a bit of context, here is the Maven Hotel’s description of itself:

Located in the heart of the Dairy Block in LoDo, we embrace a connection with our unique micro-district. Our lobby eliminates traditional boundaries by creating a connection between our Dairy Block hotel and our activated Alley just outside.

An inviting space for guests and locals alike, we celebrate craft and creativity and delight in both our past and present. We invite you to experience a uniquely crafted stay with us, as our mavens look after your every need while you enjoy large, loft-style accommodations, excellent on-site dining, exceptional retail destinations, local attractions and a community of discovery.

Conte Nast Traveler wrote of the Maven as one of the 16 best Denver hotels, with a 2020 readers’ choice award.

At the Maven Hotel, you get a lot for your money: an ideal location downtown, fun social spaces, and access to one of Denver’s hip food markets. The community spaces are the draw at this boutique hotel in LoDo, but rooms also feature pour-over coffee and facilities that are ideal for traveling families. Plus, with the Denver Milk Market nearby, you’re never lacking for food options. The 172 rooms are modeled off of edgy New York lofts, and the millennial vibe continues with woven swinging chairs when you step off the elevator. Guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, colorful abstract art, and steel-accented furniture. Guest bathrooms are large and dramatic, clad in black and white tile and large mirrors. Families should book the Journeyman bunkbed room, which features a bottom king bed and a twin bed placed perpendicularly above.

That does not sound like your typical drug dealer or gun runner meeting place. The situation is odd, puzzling. We know who was arrested by Denver police:

Three men and one woman — Richard Platt, 42, Gabriel Rodriguez, 48, Ricardo Rodriguez, 44, and Kanoelehua Serikawa, 43 — were taken into custody during an execution of a search warrant after a housekeeper discovered more than a dozen weapons and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition inside one of two rooms on the eighth floor of the hotel.

What nationality were they? “A mix of cultures.” Were Gabriel and Ricardo Rodriguez related? Apparently not. So, we have no motive confirmed or denied on the record. We have an alert hotel staff, that had reportedly been internally trained with the thought of upcoming events and possible trouble. We have a competent police department that very quickly, legally, and quietly got to the rooms with warrants and executed the warrants without a commotion, let alone shots fired.

The fitting concluding words, by Chief Pazen: “We want to encourage folks that if they see something, to say something, and together we can all be safe.”


* MLB Executives screen shot as of July 11, 2021:

MLB executives

** Atlanta compared to Denver demographics:

Atlanta Denver demographics

Published in Domestic Policy
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  1. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    Whew!  That hotel staffer deserves a bonus.

    • #1
  2. navyjag Coolidge
    navyjag
    @navyjag

    No doubt Clifford they were “white supremacists”.  Ready to kill lots of white folks coming to the game. Nothing to see here. 

    • #2
  3. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    Whew! That hotel staffer deserves a bonus.

    Yes. I’m guessing she didn’t get a big tip from the guests in those two rooms. 

    • #3
  4. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    navyjag (View Comment):

    No doubt Clifford they were “white supremacists”. Ready to kill lots of white folks coming to the game. Nothing to see here.

    From the lack of federal drumbeat and national media hype, you can bet that prospect has been largely eliminated.

    • #4
  5. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    I wonder of the narcotics are legal in the state of Colorado…   More questions than answers so far.

    • #5
  6. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    Whew! That hotel staffer deserves a bonus.

    Yes. I’m guessing she didn’t get a big tip from the guests in those two rooms.

    I’m grateful for idiots who don’t put out the “Do Not Disturb” sign . . .

    • #6
  7. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Glad that they listened to her. Didn’t someone in San Bernardino say something and was ignored as a bigot or was afraid to say something lest be called a bigot? Something was seen but nothing said.

    I listened to a podcast last week and the Las Vegas shooting came up. The host said that she’s most afraid that we don’t yet know a motive because it might simply be that the shooter just wanted to kill a lot of people before he died. She said that’s harder to accept because it’s so evil.

    • #7
  8. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    But did the maid really do the right thing? Why didn’t she call a social worker?

    • #8
  9. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    Clifford A. Brown:

    Our lobby eliminates traditional boundaries by creating a connection between our Dairy Block hotel and our activated Alley just outside.

    An inviting space for guests and locals alike, we celebrate craft and creativity and delight in both our past and present. We invite you to experience a uniquely crafted stay with us, as our mavens look after your every need while you enjoy large, loft-style accommodations, excellent on-site dining, exceptional retail destinations, local attractions and a community of discovery.

    What in the world does any of this mean??

    • #9
  10. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    I’m curious to know more about this case.  The story linked in the OP includes the following:

    Denver police are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, which released a statement Sunday, saying they are not aware of any threats to the All-Star Game and have no reason to believe Friday’s arrests were connected to the event at this time.

    “We have no reason to believe this incident was connected to terrorism or a threat directed at the All-Star Game. We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players, or the community at this time,” the statement read.

    If there was no reason to believe that this incident was connected with terrorism, what created the probable cause to get a warrant to search the room?  Was it the presence of some guns?  People are generally allowed to possess guns.

    There is the quote from the OP:

    Clifford A. Brown: One of the suspects arrested Friday night had posted a message on Facebook referencing a recent divorce and saying he was going to “go out in a big way,” according to the multiple law enforcement sources.

    I’d like to see more about the context of this post.  Was this phrase an indication of someone planning a mass-murder/suicide, after a bitter divorce?  Or was it about “go[ing] out in a big way” to celebrate?  I just have no idea, and I can see it either way.

    There is a report of the charges made in this article (which is linked from the article referenced in the OP).  Among the four suspects, there were three charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, three charges of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and two suspects with warrants from another jurisdiction.

    • #10
  11. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Clifford A. Brown: The annual Major League Baseball All-Star game had been moved by the woke MLB, out of leftist hatred for moderate election integrity laws in Georgia. The almost all-White MLB executives* took major money away from a majority Black city and gave it to a majority White city, where Blacks are underrepresented.**  The suits had to be thankful All Star weekend that Denver at least has a Black mayor, like Atlanta. 

    On another topic, I don’t like the racial bean-counting of this part of the OP.  I do think that MLB was wrong to relocate the All-Star game to punish Georgia for an election law that the Leftists don’t like.  This would be true regardless of the racial composition of the city losing the game, or the city gaining the game.

    Clifford, I’m not sure of your motivation for this point, and I do realize that you may be seeking to criticize the MLB suits as hypocrites who “hurt blacks” with a political decision supposedly taken to “help blacks.”  I think, however, that we need to get away from this constant focus on race.

    • #11
  12. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown:

    Our lobby eliminates traditional boundaries by creating a connection between our Dairy Block hotel and our activated Alley just outside.

    An inviting space for guests and locals alike, we celebrate craft and creativity and delight in both our past and present. We invite you to experience a uniquely crafted stay with us, as our mavens look after your every need while you enjoy large, loft-style accommodations, excellent on-site dining, exceptional retail destinations, local attractions and a community of discovery.

    What in the world does any of this mean??

    I had the same thought,  That hotel sounds like my worst nightmare.

    • #12
  13. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Most people do not check into a hotel room with 16 long guns, a thousand rounds of ammunition, and body armor, unless they are Secret Service agents on an overnight trip with the President.

    Reading through the service and amenities that the hotel offers a hunting lodge is not mentioned.

    The maid reported what she saw in the room, and due to the Las Vegas hotel shooting there is a good chance that there might have been a quick background check on the guests before the warrants to search were obtained.

    If one of them has a felony conviction then the possession of firearms is both a state crime, and a federal crime. A felon in possession of body armor is also a crime.

    The motive may not be clear at this time. It could have been a robbery plan, drug deal, arms sales, or mass shooting event.

    • #13
  14. CACrabtree Coolidge
    CACrabtree
    @CACrabtree

    Eustace C. Scrubb (View Comment):

    But did the maid really do the right thing? Why didn’t she call a social worker?

    Yeah, society made him do it…

    • #14
  15. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    And I see no mention of this today on Fox News or on my local KOMO news.  Why aren’t the MSM on this en masse?  It’s got all the ingredients for a “gun control” narrative.

    • #15
  16. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Eustace C. Scrubb (View Comment):

    But did the maid really do the right thing? Why didn’t she call a social worker?

    Thank goodness!  The social worker would have talked to the potential killers and said, “Don’t you want to rethink your position on furthering the gun violence pandemic in this country?”  Then we’d have a dead social worker as the first victim . . .

    • #16
  17. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    And I see no mention of this today on Fox News or on my local KOMO news. Why aren’t the MSM on this en masse? It’s got all the ingredients for a “gun control” narrative.

    There was no bleeding, so the story is not leading.

    • #17
  18. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown: The annual Major League Baseball All-Star game had been moved by the woke MLB, out of leftist hatred for moderate election integrity laws in Georgia. The almost all-White MLB executives* took major money away from a majority Black city and gave it to a majority White city, where Blacks are underrepresented.** The suits had to be thankful All Star weekend that Denver at least has a Black mayor, like Atlanta.

    On another topic, I don’t like the racial bean-counting of this part of the OP. I do think that MLB was wrong to relocate the All-Star game to punish Georgia for an election law that the Leftists don’t like. This would be true regardless of the racial composition of the city losing the game, or the city gaining the game.

    Clifford, I’m not sure of your motivation for this point, and I do realize that you may be seeking to criticize the MLB suits as hypocrites who “hurt blacks” with a political decision supposedly taken to “help blacks.” I think, however, that we need to get away from this constant focus on race.

    I do not think that we will be allowed to get away from the left’s current weaponization of ethnic and skin color categories, not until it hurts the left more than it benefits. Corporate entities like MLB have allied with the left and their virtue signalling needs to be strongly contested. 

    • #18
  19. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    On another topic, I don’t like the racial bean-counting of this part of the OP.  I do think that MLB was wrong to relocate the All-Star game to punish Georgia for an election law that the Leftists don’t like.  This would be true regardless of the racial composition of the city losing the game, or the city gaining the game.

    What about moving the All-Star game from a state that just passed voting reform that is no stronger than or maybe even still not as strong as the state they moved the All-Star game TO?

    • #19
  20. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    The story appeared on the Fox News app, about halfway down, around 10:00PM last night.  Not exactly buried, but not above the “fold” either.  They have pictures of all the miscreants, and some of the backstory.  Interesting.

    • #20
  21. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    And I see no mention of this today on Fox News or on my local KOMO news. Why aren’t the MSM on this en masse? It’s got all the ingredients for a “gun control” narrative.

    There was no bleeding, so the story is not leading.

    I like this cynicism, but you can do better.  There is no story, because they know there is nothing to drive their narrative.  The corporate news does not make money by getting viewers.  They make money by pushing a narrative that powerful interests want pushed.  Social media has all the gore and titillation people used to get from news. 

    • #21
  22. Midwest Southerner Coolidge
    Midwest Southerner
    @MidwestSoutherner

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown:

    Our lobby eliminates traditional boundaries by creating a connection between our Dairy Block hotel and our activated Alley just outside.

    An inviting space for guests and locals alike, we celebrate craft and creativity and delight in both our past and present. We invite you to experience a uniquely crafted stay with us, as our mavens look after your every need while you enjoy large, loft-style accommodations, excellent on-site dining, exceptional retail destinations, local attractions and a community of discovery.

    What in the world does any of this mean??

    When I read their description, my groan might have been loud enough to be heard on the other side of town.

    • #22
  23. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Midwest Southerner (View Comment):

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown:

    Our lobby eliminates traditional boundaries by creating a connection between our Dairy Block hotel and our activated Alley just outside.

    An inviting space for guests and locals alike, we celebrate craft and creativity and delight in both our past and present. We invite you to experience a uniquely crafted stay with us, as our mavens look after your every need while you enjoy large, loft-style accommodations, excellent on-site dining, exceptional retail destinations, local attractions and a community of discovery.

    What in the world does any of this mean??

    When I read their description, my groan might have been loud enough to be heard on the other side of town.

    It is a carefully curated artisanal word salad, drizzled with warm duckspeak dressing.

    • #23
  24. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Midwest Southerner (View Comment):

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown:

    Our lobby eliminates traditional boundaries by creating a connection between our Dairy Block hotel and our activated Alley just outside.

    An inviting space for guests and locals alike, we celebrate craft and creativity and delight in both our past and present. We invite you to experience a uniquely crafted stay with us, as our mavens look after your every need while you enjoy large, loft-style accommodations, excellent on-site dining, exceptional retail destinations, local attractions and a community of discovery.

    What in the world does any of this mean??

    When I read their description, my groan might have been loud enough to be heard on the other side of town.

    It is a carefully curated artisanal word salad, drizzled with warm duckspeak dressing.

    Ooh, nice! 

    • #24
  25. Midwest Southerner Coolidge
    Midwest Southerner
    @MidwestSoutherner

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):
    It is a carefully curated artisanal word salad, drizzled with warm duckspeak dressing.

    You, sir, are a wordsmith.

    • #25
  26. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Midwest Southerner (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):
    It is a carefully curated artisanal word salad, drizzled with warm duckspeak dressing.

    You, sir, are a wordsmith.

    Which is better than a winstonsmith. 

    • #26
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