MIAMI (WSVN) - A man got taken down with a Taser after witnesses said he made a troubling threat, reportedly telling hotel workers that he was going to shoot up the Miami hotel.
The man made the threat at the popular Selina Miami Gold Dust Hotel along Biscayne Boulevard on Tuesday over a lost claim ticket for some luggage.
7News cameras rolled as the unruly hotel guest, who has since been identified as 28-year-old Joseph Widley, was subdued with a Taser, cuffed and arrested after fists went flying.
“Somebody got upset and threw a punch, and then the police were called,” said a woman.
The manager of the Selina Miami Gold Dust was on the receiving end of Widley’s fist, with the jab hitting her in the right cheek.
Two other hotel employees were roughed up as well over left luggage at the front desk.
Hotel staff said Joseph wasn’t staying at the hotel when he was demanding the luggage that he left when he apparently left the hotel, but he didn’t have a claim check.
From there, things got violent and he became irate. That’s when he forced his way to the back room and punches started flying.
Even after police were called, Widley was irate and began fighting with officers.
According to the arrest report, he told officers, “You’ll have to kill me first.”
It took five officers almost two minutes to get Widley under control, cuffed and placed in the back of the squad car.
The hotel manager and the two other employees are expected to be OK.
Joseph can’t go back home or return to the Selina Gold Dust Hotel as he awaits trial.
Widley has since been charged with burglary with assault or battery, and two counts of battery and resisting an officer without violence to his person.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.