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.