Five charges for allegedly intoxicated hotel guest

An allegedly intoxicated man began kicking on a couple’s Motel 6 room door, with a couple brandishing an “assault rifle” to scare him away, and was arrested by Tumwater Police after he drove away early yesterday morning.

Salvador Rivera, 34, of Olympia, was pulled over a few miles from the motel on May 6, 2021 as he drove west on Highway 101 in a silver 2000 Honda Civic. Refusing a breathalyzer, Rivera had his blood drawn for a charge of driving under the influence. 

A couple, Jeffrey Baker, 34, and Talitha Gullett, 31, who were staying in the room adjacent to Rivera, told officers that Rivera had been kicking on doors and tried to “break into their room.” The couple had an airsoft gun that they told police they used to scare Rivera away because they were terrified of him.

Baker and Gullett had arrived earlier at Motel 6 where Rivera, sitting in his Honda in the parking lot, began revving his engine at Baker. Told to be quiet because “people are trying to sleep” by the couple, Rivera called Baker a “faggot” then became disorderly, banging on both doors to their room. River allegedly made threatening statements, so the couple called 911.

Baker opened the curtain to the room’s window, displaying the airsoft gun which looked similar to an “assault rifle” to scare off Rivera. Which worked as he left back down the stairs. Rivera went to the Motel 6 front desk and told them that the couple had an “assault rifle” which established a second call into dispatch.

As Tumwater Police interviewed Gullett, Rivera, who sat in his Honda, began backing out of the parking lot despite officer commands to stop. The car backed up until it hit a curb in the parking lot, then sped away at a high rate of speed.

Rivera drove with police in pursuit to the AM/PM at 1725 Evergreen Park Dr, placed his hands outside the vehicle and yelled “Don’t shoot me” twice to Tumwater Police. Rivera then refused to comply with other officer commands. After nine minutes of continually informing Rivera that he was under arrest, he complied. According to the police report, he stumbled and his pants feel down to his knees. Officers noticed the smell of intoxicants on Rivera, his eyes bloodshot and “very red.” Rivera refused a breathalyzer and asked for his lawyer, but gave officers permission to search his car.

Tumwater Police observed a six pack of “Elysian” beer with only three full, unopened bottles inside. At least two empty bottles were in the front seat, according to the police report, and there was liquid all over the vehicle that “appeared to be alcohol.”

According to the police report, Rivera made several incoherent statements, including wanting to speak to his mother and lawyer, but needing his sleep machine. Without prompting, Rivera told Tumwater Police that he had been at Applebee’s earlier drinking with a woman that he had met. He told officers that he “had too much to drink so he was trying to sleep it off at Motel 6” and several times said, “now that I’m sobering up, I’m feeling a lot better.”

Tumwater Police also learned that Rivera’s license had previously been suspended. He was booked into the Thurston County Jail for Attempted Residential Burglary, Obstructing A Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Arrest, Driving Under the Influence, and Driving While License Suspended.

UPDATE:  This story was updated on May 7, 2021 to add recorded police interviews with the named victims.