Crime & Safety
Police Records Show 50 Calls To Vernon Motel 6 Since Homicide
Vernon police have responded to 50 calls to the local Motel 6 since late June, records show.
VERNON, CT — Vernon Police Department records show that, between a June homicide and an assault involving a thrown rock over the weekend, there have been 50 calls at the Motel 6 on Hartford Turnpike.
Patch requested the records this week. VPD spokesman Sgt. Rob Marra said the calls have ranged from a shooting, to flood rescues during heavy rain to medical calls to welfare checks to disorderly conduct.
Residents can expect an increased police presence in the area, he said. The Motel 6 sits at 51 Hartford Turnpike on the Vernon-Manchester line.
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"Due to the increased volume of calls in the area of the motel, we will be increasing patrols and our visibility in the area," Marra said.
Water rescues at the motel involved an overflowing Hockanum River because of heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Henri and the remnants of Hurricane Ida 10 days apart.
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The two most glaring cases of criminal activity were Sunday's rock throwing incident and the June 27 fatal shooting of the hotel owner.
According to arrest report, Sunday's altercation broke out at 9 p.m. A couple — 36-year-old Crystal Wiedler and 38-year-old Jeremiah Eastman, who were both apparently living at the hotel according to an arrest report — began fighting with another guest.
A rock was thrown and the other guest was injured, police said.
Eastman was charged with second-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace and Weidler was charged with second-degree breach of peace.
The murder case also centers around a couple.
In late June, 31-year-old Alving Waugh was charged with murder Monday morning in connection with a fatal shooting at the motel.
According to case records, Waugh and his girlfriend, who were residents of the hotel, argued with the owner of the establishment over pool passes. The argument turned into a deadly shooting. Case records show that Waugh is accused of leaving the pool area, retrieving a gun and coming back to the owner and shooting him.
See more about the case here.
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