Apparently the cool thing for Hyatt to do is to go through peoples $500,000 2018 Lamborghini Aventador S whenever they feel like. Derek Washington of Black Rhino Security, Hired security for F-1 firearms, caught Mel Williams asst director of room ops for the Hyatt Regency going through the supercar belonging to the owner of -F1 Firearms. This wasn’t a manager, security, or valet personnel, this was room ops whose job title has absolutely nothing to do with valet operations going through a guests vehicle in which he had no legal basis to do so. Initially, when confronted about what they were doing in the vehicle they claimed, “It was a cool car and people wanted to look at it.” However, when James Waddleton the security manager was asked about the incident he responded with “They had the right to search” and later said, “Since there was a police officer present it was ok.” which was a bit odd since the word search was never mentioned when they were confronted. So what started out as employees getting into a guests car that had no reason to be there now sounds like and unwarranted search. Either way we are pretty sure this is NOT legal by any means despite what the hotel claims.
We reached out to F-1 Firearms and Dion The owner of F-1 Firearms had this to say,
“Its Very Alarming that Hyatt management Feels they have the god given right to invade your privacy through intrusion by seclusion. Think of it this way if you check your luggage with the concierge should they go through your luggage just because its nice? Being that this is not only Texas but also during the NRA show what if there were weapons in the vehicle? Not that I would leave weapons in my car. There is an integrity problem with management and a couple other employees at Hyatt as it was the night time GM that asked for the key. This wasn’t the Valets fault. They were actually super nice and even washed the car! The problem I have is rather than say hey we got excited at a fancy car they decided to cite legal lingo and assert authority to search.”
F-1 FirearmsHere is Mel Williams asst dir of room ops for the Hyatt Dallas Reunion Square going through my car at 3:00am. He attained the keys from valet. When asked why people are entering my car James Waddleton security manager says “This is private property and we can look in anything we want without probable cause.” Hyatt apparently has no problem going through personal vehicles and telling customers it’s their rights. What should i do about this? @hyatt #hyatt @hyattdallas#hyattdallas #invasionofprivacy #sketchy#nra #2a #firearms PHONE 214-651-1234 in case your curious. Update: Hyatt claims a hired police officer was onsite and may have taken part in this and their actions are okay because he was there and they were just curious. Grrrr. @aza.law Steve Mitby apparently having a cop there and being on private property usurps all privacy laws
We even reached out to Hyatt to try and get a statement but no matter who we talked to we were given no comment and one person even went so far as to make the claim that no car was searched despite the obvious and now viral photos. However, they seem to have a statement for all the sweet new reviews left on their facebook page.
This kind of behavior certainly is disturbing to say the least. It definitely leaves unanswered questions. Were they really just checking out the car because its rare? Its a 2018 Lamborghini Aventador S which usually has a retail price of damn near half a million dollars. Were they looking for guns because the NRA show was in town? Why was Room OPS poking through the car.
Do you think Hyatt was in the right or wrong? We’d love to hear your thoughts especially from Law Enforcement and Hospitality professionals.