Newporter Hotel Partly Evacuated After Armed Guest Barricades Self
NEWPORT BEACH — Police evacuated a section of the Hyatt Newporter on Wednesday night after a hotel guest they said was suicidal barricaded himself in a room with a gun.
“He’s making all sorts of demands and threatening to kill himself,” Police Sgt. Doug Thomas said.
Lt. Tim Newman identified the guest as Joseph Perelli, 42.
Newman said hotel security had gone to Perelli’s room Wednesday evening because he had stayed at the hotel for an extended period and they were concerned whether he was planning to pay his bill. A security officer reported seeing the man holding a gun to his mouth and threatening to kill himself.
Hotel management called police, who rushed to the two-story hotel in the 1100 block of Jamboree Road about 7:30 p.m.
Hotel manager Pat Enger said a section of the hotel known as the Balboa Building was evacuated. About 70 of the 110 rooms were occupied at the time.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
