Man Arrested After Allegedly Pulling Fire Alarm at Salina Hotel

A Salina man was arrested Saturday afternoon after allegedly pulling a fire alarm at a local hotel and refusing to leave the property.

At approximately 1:45 p.m. on Aug. 9, officers responded to the Holiday Inn, 3145 S. Ninth Street, regarding a guest who was refusing to leave and had reportedly activated a fire alarm.

Hotel employees told officers that 41-year-old Joshua J. Albrecht had been staying at the hotel and was scheduled to check out that day. After staff had not heard from him, they contacted Albrecht by phone. According to employees, Albrecht stated he was no longer at the hotel.

Shortly after that conversation, the hotel's fire alarm was activated, prompting a response from the Salina Fire Department.

An employee checking the building for a possible fire reportedly encountered Albrecht inside the hotel. When asked whether he had pulled the alarm, Albrecht allegedly admitted that he had.

Officers searched the hotel and located Albrecht, who was taken into custody without incident.

Albrecht was booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of communicating false information to require emergency services, criminal trespassing, and theft of services. Police said the theft-of-services charge stemmed from Albrecht remaining at the hotel beyond his checkout time without being able to pay for an additional day.

The investigation remains ongoing.