Maids were not supposed to enter Ellenton motel room. What they found put guest in jail, cops say

A 30-year-old Palmetto man is facing armed trafficking charges after motel maids didn’t get the message that a guest had renewed his room for a second day and entered the room to clean it.

Housekeeping found an AK-47 rifle, more than 550 grams of cocaine and more than 60 grams of methamphetamine in his room at the Red Roof Inn, 4915 block of 17th St. E., Ellenton, near Interstate 75, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say Eliceo Santoyo checked into the motel on Sunday, planning one night’s stay. But he decided to check back in for another day on Monday. No one told the maids, so they went into the room to begin cleaning.

Under the bed, they found the AK-47 and a pistol. Inisde one of the dresser drawers, they found backpack filled with the drugs, as well as ammunition for the guns, according to the arrest report.

The housekeeping crew took the guns and drugs to the front office and the sheriff’s office was contacted.

Deputies responded and made contact with Santoyo outside of the motel and he was arrested.

According to the report, Santoyo admitted he owned the guns, but denied any knowledge of the drugs.

Santoyo was booked into the Manatee County jail on Monday on two counts of armed trafficking in cocaine and methamphetamine. He is being held without bond.

This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 1:50 PM.