Cops Injured, 5 Arrested In Morris County Motel Riot: Police

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Five people were arrested after a large-scale brawl at a Morris County motel last month, which ended with several police officers injured, according to Hanover Police.

The fight broke out on Aug. 16 at the Red Carpet Inn, located at 1255 Route 10. Police said they had been called to investigate a complaint involving harassment and threats made by one guest toward another.

While questioning a suspect, an officer noticed a man lighting a cigarette in the motel hallway, despite having been warned multiple times not to smoke indoors.

The officer informed the man that he would be issued a summons, but before he could approach, the man attempted to flee into a nearby room. When the officer grabbed his arm to stop him, the man resisted, according to police.

As police tried to take the man into custody, his wife and daughter became confrontational, shouting threats and profanities while trying to pull the officers away to thwart the arrest.

Other officers then attempted to arrest the daughter, at which point two other motel guests intervened and attacked the officers to prevent the arrest.

A large fight erupted in the hallway, prompting the officers to call for backup. Additional Hanover Township officers, along with multiple officers from nearby jurisdictions, responded to the scene and eventually secured the area.

Police reported that several Hanover officers were injured during the fight, but none of the injuries required medical attention.

In total, three men and two women were arrested at the scene, police said:

• Luis Pabon, 34: aggravated assault on police, resisting arrest, riot, obstruction, failure to disperse, violent disorderly conduct, and smoking in public.
• Aliyah Rodriguez, 18: terroristic threats, resisting arrest, riot, obstruction, failure to disperse, and violent disorderly conduct.
• Annamarie Rodriguez, 35: riot, failure to disperse, obstruction, and violent disorderly conduct.
• Dawan Portis, 20: aggravated assault on police, resisting arrest, riot, obstruction, failure to disperse, and violent disorderly conduct.
• Ahmir Portis, 18: aggravated assault on police, resisting arrest, riot, obstruction, failure to disperse, and violent disorderly conduct.

The three men are being held in the Morris County Jail awaiting a detention hearing, while the two women were issued summonses and released pending their court dates, police said.