Secret trap door hiding guns and drugs found in motel room

Updated
Secret Trap Door Hiding Guns, Drugs Found in Motel Room
Secret Trap Door Hiding Guns, Drugs Found in Motel Room

Cars may pass by everyday, but what went down behind closed doors at the Holiday Lodge in Grass Valley cannot be seen from the street. Police in Grass Valley arrested 15 people Friday morning after finding guns, drugs and a trap door in a room at the Holiday Lodge.

Officers showed up at the Holiday Lodge around 7 a.m. after a call about a room that was supposed to be vacant -– but wasn't.

"We found meth, guns and knives in the room," Sergeant Clint Bates said. "We did surveillance of the area and the hotel manager (Dawn Olson) granted us access to the room." More drugs and paraphernalia, along with several guns, were found in other rooms, according to investigators.

The Holiday Lodge manager was among the 15 people arrested. Dawn Olson was booked for criminal conspiracy and maintaining a place for the purpose of unlawfully selling, giving away or using controlled substances.

The motel manager told FOX40 she knew nothing about what happened in room 51, the location where Grass Valley Police made the arrests. "There's a wall in between my desk and the parking lot," Olson said. "I can't see who comes in and out."

When asked about the trap door, Olson explained, "I knew about the door, a former employee made it -- but we sealed it up."

The motel told FOX40 they are fully committed to working with the police department in the investigation.

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