Last night was a rough night at work. We are now having many weddings at the hotel I work for. Weddings can sometimes get out of hand depending on the situation and the type of people attending. Sometimes people get sick, emotional or violent and since it is a public place it is the hotel workers responsibility to keep things civil and decent regardless of our own views or opinions on the matter. Last night I had somebody arrested.
The wedding was for the most part calm. Some people were drug users and were openly approaching the staff about where they could get more of what they needed.. Other wedding guests were really drunk. People had forgot things that they needed for the wedding like tuxedo shirts, wrapping paper and all that good stuff so naturally we were expected to make things all work out for them by obtaining the things they needed and wrapping their gifts.. This is all standard service industry stuff that is annoying but also is part of our job.
The wedding and reception went without a hiccup and my coworker and I were finishing up our end of the night stuff and getting ready to head home. I had to use the restroom so I stepped away from the desk for a second. On my way into the restroom (which is across from a guest room) I hear a lot of yelling. I proceed to enter the bathroom not thinking anything of the yelling. People fight all the time and the hotel cannot really get involved unless there is a noise complaint or something. When I am coming out of the bathroom I hear this loud bang and a woman yells "you can throw me around all you want!". There is more yelling, screaming and banging around the room. I know for sure that I have to get involved now and just as I am heading down the stairs I run into a bellman that has just seen the abuse from out in the hotel parking lot. I go directly to the only manager on property (the restaurant manager) and explain the situation. We decide the best, safest thing to do is call the police.
Now since this is private property if the police are called and abuse actually took place it doesn't matter if the victim wants to press charges or not. The abuser will automatically be taken off to jail because 1. The hotel will press charges and 2. The city will press charges.
Once the cops got into the guest's room it was obvious that abuse had taken place. The room was in pretty bad shape and the woman had many obvious signs of physical abuse. The couple kept claiming nothing had happened and that everything was fine. Based on the marks, cuts and bumps on the woman and the statements from the hotel staff domestic violence had clearly taken place and the police were arresting the male guest.
What blows my mind is that the woman (the victim) was upset that we were taking her abusive mate away. She went to the extent of pounding on the windows of a police car screaming "let him out" and she told the cops to get f*#%ed several times. She was almost arrested for disturbing the peace! The cops had to wrestle her just to get a photo of her cuts and bumps for the police report.
I was shocked, exhausted and shaken up over all this. As a child of domestic violence I just don't understand why these abused women try to cover for the abusive hurtful mates and why they remain in these unhealthy relationships. I mean I know all the reasons they give for staying but none of it makes sense! Last nights abuse and arrest was such a sad, hard thing to witness and I know we did what we had to do, I just hope that woman ends up okay in the end.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 4
On the other hand, there are those who are just simply trapped, don't know how to earn a living, sense that the guy will kill them if they try to escape, and when they sense that they're usually right. This is not an easy problem to solve. You did the right thing calling the police. Maybe this will sober them up, whether literally or figuratively.
One positive thing nowadays is that domestic abuse is being talked about. There will always be women that will stay or go back for one reason or another. However, today there is help for those who want and seek it. Thanks for sharing this story. It's a shame that poor woman has no network of support.
are only a few reasons. I can't say why everyone does this, but if you read my most recent story, it will explain a little of what I went thro' and why I stayed...for a time. Love & Fear can play a big role in what we do along with having Hope. Sometimes people feel stuck in the situation they are in...or just don't know what to do or how to do it. I think you made the right choice in getting the police involved and at least giving this person an out. Unfortunately there are some people who have been brain washed into believing that they did something to deserve this abuse and that it's all their fault. Unfortunately, although there is help out there, it isn't always easy or as helpful as some may think. Sometimes the fears are very well founded, and women aren't always protected. Too many different situations... I'm glad that you cared enough to step in and do something.