The manager of a local hotel was arrested Wednesday morning on charges stemming from a narcotics investigation on Monday, according to Brown County Sherriff’s Office.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputies Shade Tidwell and Troy Boulter arrested 48-year-old Darrin Quinn, manager of the LaQuinta Inn in Brownwood, at approximately 10:40 a.m. Wednesday. Quinn is charged with interference of the public duties of a peace officer from his actions during an investigation at the LaQuinta Monday morning. According to BCSO Captain Tony Aaron, Quinn did not tell the truth during the investigation.Further investigation by BCSO on Monday had led them to the LaQuinta after a suspect in a narcotics investigation fled Saturday evening and was later found to be staying at the hotel.
When speaking with Quinn, the general manager of the hotel, it appeared he was cooperating with law enforcement; however, officers found that Quinn was not telling the truth, Aaron said. According to Aaron, Quinn is from the Austin area and manages approximately 10 hotels.
Quinn did advise the officers which room the suspect, 26-year-old Jared Lynn Cook of Odessa was staying in. Cook and 25-year-old Meranda Delgadillo of Coleman were arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 less than 1 gram and possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces. Cook was also served a warrant for motion to revoke.
Through the investigation, officers learned that Quinn had used his authority as general manager to take approximately 5-7 random rooms throughout the hotel out of service and allow known drug offenders to occupy them and use them for recreational purposes such as parties, according to Aaron. As the other rooms were located, it was found that most of their occupants had left after being alerted by Quinn of the investigation, Aaron said.
The owner of the hotel was contacted and informed of the drug activity and the general manager’s actions.
Aaron stated Monday that having a general manager of a hotel involved was disturbing.
“To be a businessman manipulating law enforcement was what really bothered us,” said Aaron. “Typically in our community, business men and women support law enforcement, but to come into a situation where someone was trying to mislead law enforcement in a narcotics investigation, is disturbing.”
Quinn is pictured above as he arrived at the Brown County Jail in the custody of BCSO deputies Wednesday.
