Pubdate: Wed, 2 June 1999 Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ) Contact: http://www.azstarnet.com/ Author: Carmen Duarte The Arizona Daily Star POLICE AND MOTELS JOIN IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS MARANA - For five years, undercover narcotics agents have seen an increase in street-level dealers using hotels across the country to sell drugs. By using hotels and rental cars, drug dealers have less to lose when they're busted and their property is seized, said Detective Terry Evans of the Marana Police Department. Marana police have investigated three cases involving drugs at Marana hotels since March, said Officer Robert Derfus. Marana police foresee an increase in drug activity in this town, which has five hotels flanking Interstate 10 north of West Ina Road. Police are preparing now. As the city grows and more plans for hotels are finalized, officers will continue heavy patrol of the hotels and will educate workers about looking out for suspicious activity. Hotel managers are pleased with the department's approach. Margaret Jarvis, director of internal communications for Motel 6 based in Dallas, said Marana officers not only patrol the parking lots often but respond quickly when needed. ``I know this must help keep the area safer and makes our guests feel more secure,'' Jarvis said of the motel at 4360 W. Ina Road. She said the motel has not had serious problems with guests dealing drugs out of its rooms. ``We cooperate with law enforcement and that is a big benefit for us. If managers see suspicious activity, they do report it to the police. It is to our advantage to maintain a healthy environment,'' Jarvis said. Anna Noriega, a clerk at the Comfort Inn, 4930 W. Ina Road, echoed Jarvis' comments about employees cooperating with police. ``Police patrol here about every hour and do pass safety tips to workers. They are real good with us and we've been lucky. We have not had problems with drug dealing,'' said Noriega. Since December, Derfus and his partner, Rico, a 6-year-old German shepherd, have taken an estimated $500,000 worth of narcotics and marijuana off the streets. The two have worked 41 drug cases - 16 of those within Marana, Derfus said. In December, Derfus and Rico found 329 pounds of marijuana in a false compartment in a Chevrolet pickup traveling on Interstate 10. Last month, the pair helped a multi-agency fugitive task force arrest a felon who was staying at the Red Roof Inn, 4940 W. Ina Road. The man was found in possession of methamphetamines, Derfus said. Recently, Derfus and Rico also assisted in the arrest of a couple estimated to have been selling $25,000 a week worth of methamphetamines from the Red Roof Inn. The couple began selling in March and were arrested May 5. During the investigation, Evans said detectives learned Francisco Esquer, 22, and Kathryn Thielen, 21, had also sold drugs from a room at the Ina Road Motel 6. The couple would check into rooms for about one week and then move their operation to another hotel before returning, Evans said. Another case occured at the Comfort Inn in April. Even though inn personnel have not had suspicions about drug dealers selling out of rooms, police did find 126 pounds of marijuana in an abandoned car at the inn's parking lot, Derfus said. ``Traffic coming in and out of hotel parking lots is the norm so it doesn't seem unusual,'' said Evans, explaining the vehicle traffic from addicts coming to buy drugs. ``And with Interstate 10, what a perfect way to get easy access on and off the main corridor. ``Obviously, if dealers are working out of small apartment complexes, it is so much easier for neighbors to see the heavy traffic coming and leaving the area,'' said Evans. Evans said hotel employees are made aware to keep an eye on traffic arriving and leaving rooms, and to also report if guests are making an extraordinary amount of telephone calls. ``If someone has made 30 calls within a 24-hour period, then police need to be alerted,'' he said. Derfus said officers patrol the hotels routinely and talk to clerks who know many of the officers on a first-name basis. ``This is part of community policing where we get to know businesses in the area and both businesses and police work together to solve crime,'' he said. Gail Whitcomb, a spokeswoman for Red Roof Inn based in Columbus, Ohio, said the chain's inns have interior corridors for guests' safety, but the ``key is to have alert employees'' to curb crime. ``We need to work and watch out for everyone else. This (drug dealing) activity is not acceptable,'' Whitcomb said. She said employees will be meeting with police and work to possibly set up a task force among all the hotels in the area to halt drug dealers' activities there. ``We are very committed to the safety and security of our guests and employees,'' Whitcomb said. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck