A Tupelo man was caught squatting in a local hotel, which turned out to be a pricey offense.

On January, 20th 2022 Tupelo Police officers responded to a local hotel on North Gloster Street. Hotel staff told officers they discovered a male had been staying in a vacant hotel room for the previous two nights. When the male was confronted by hotel staff, he said his girlfriend had rented the room for him and he fled the hotel on foot.

He was later identified as 36-year-old John Patrick Brown of Tupelo and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

On January 25, 2022, Tupelo Police officers located Brown and he was arrested for Felony Defrauding an Innkeeper. Municipal Court Judge Willie Allen set his bond at $1500.