Police in Clearwater, Florida responded to an unusual disturbance Monday morning when a hotel guest refused to check out, barricading herself inside her room for nearly two hours.
According to the hotel manager, the woman had overstayed her reservation by two days and ignored repeated requests from staff to vacate. When housekeeping knocked on the door that morning, she reportedly shouted for them to leave and slid the security latch in place.
Officers were called to assist around 10:30 a.m. Bodycam footage shows police knocking and calmly explaining that she needed to leave the property. The woman could be heard arguing from inside, claiming she “paid for the room” — though staff confirmed her payment had expired.
After several warnings went unanswered, officers had no choice but to breach the door. When they entered, the woman was sitting on the bed, visibly upset but unarmed. She was taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities say she was evaluated at the scene and later transported to a nearby hospital for mental health observation. The hotel sustained minor damage to the doorframe, which management says will be repaired immediately.
Police later emphasized the importance of communication and compliance, noting that what began as a simple check-out dispute could have ended much worse.