A male gets assaulted in a Vernal hotel parking lot after the man tries breaking into his hotel room
- Travis Uresk
- Apr 3
- 3 min read
By Travis Uresk
4-3-25
| Vernal, Ut. | March 29th, 2025 |
Officer Kirk met with the Victim, who said he had been assaulted in the parking lot of the Quality Inn. The officer noticed he had visible injuries on his face and both arms.
The Victim stated that 24-year-old Alex Casarez Lopez tried to come into his hotel room around 4:00 am that morning. He said that Alex had the peephole covered when he knocked on the door. When the Victim opened the door, Alex tried to push his way through, but the Victim slammed the door shut before Alex was able to get in.
Alex somehow got a key to the Victim's room and tried to get inside, but the Victim dead bolted the door and had the security latch engaged. The Victim stated that Alex then pounded on the door and yelled at him to open the door.
The Victim stated he called the police, but Alex left before they arrived.
The Victim stated that when he tried to leave the hotel, Alex walked across the parking lot and started punching him. He said he punched Alex back to defend himself, and they ended up on the ground pushing Alex away to make space to walk away when Alex punched the Victim from behind twice, and the fight started again.
Officer Kirk called Alex, who denied the incident occurred and refused to provide any additional information. He later stated he was involved in the incident but said he talked to the Victim, and everything was fine, and the Victim didn't want to press charges.
The Victim stated this was not accurate.
Witness #1 stated that at 4:00 am, there was a loud knock on the door. The Witness stated that Alex had covered the peephole to conceal who was knocking on the door. Witness #1 stated that the Victim opened the door, Alex tried to push his way into the room, and then the Victim slammed the door shut and locked it.
Witness #1 stated that she and the Victim stayed up for a while, and a short time later, they heard a key card being used to try to open the door to their room. Witness #1 stated that Alex had somehow gotten a key without showing ID or knowing the Victim. This was later confirmed through video footage from the hotel.
Witness #1 stated that she and the Victim went to leave the hotel this morning when she saw Alex running towards them from the direction of Maverik 1740 West Highway 40 Vernal. Witness #1 stated that Alex met the Victim at the front of the Victim's truck and began punching the Victim. Witness #1 said that they finished fighting, shook hands and that Alex sucker punched the Victim as he was getting into his truck, and they began fighting again.
Witness #2 stated that he was sitting in the Maverik parking lot and saw Alex running from the Maverik parking lot into the Quality Inn parking lot. Witness #2 stated Alex then instigated a fight with the Victim and had the upper hand on the Victim before the fight got broken up. Witness #2 stated that Alex then ran back to his truck and took off.
Officer Kirk determined he had probable cause to arrest Alex for multiple offenses.
Alex used unlawful force against the Victim, causing bodily injury. Alex attempted to enter or remain unlawfully inside a hotel room that was currently the Victim's dwelling to assault the Victim. Alex intentionally engaged in a course of conduct that caused the Victim to fear for his safety and the safety of another individual. Alex engaged in recklessly creating a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm by engaging in fighting or in violent, tumultuous, or threatening behavior and making unreasonable noises in a public place.
Alex came to the Vernal Police Department and was taken into custody by assisting Officers. Alex was transported to the Uintah County Jail.
Officer Kirk spoke with Alex at the jail and advised him of his rights per Miranda, and he stated he understood these rights.
Alex stated that he did not have permission to be in the hotel room, but he did receive a key card from the front desk. He told the officer that he used the key card to try to open the door. Alex denied ever entering the room and admitted to getting into a physical altercation.
Alex Lopez is currently on supervised probation.
All the articles from 1nationjustice.com are from the affidavits of probable cause reports that the officers write. If you would like, you can get a copy of the report from the website below. It does cost money to get on the site and to open every document you want to read.
Comentários