'Filthy' Extended Stay Inn motel closed; animals removed, several people arrested

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - At least eight people were arrested and a number of animals were removed Wednesday from what was described as a filthy Kansas City motel.

The arrests at the Extended Stay Inn motel, 2620 NE 43rd Street, included two people who were arrested a little after noon in a stolen car with meth inside, police said.

Authorities say they arrived Wednesday morning to the motel, near the Antioch exit of Interstate 35, to find filthy conditions, including junk-filled rooms, suspected drug residue and multiple animals -- including dead and living mice.

Kansas City's Animal Health and Public Safety Division removed at least seven dogs and cats. Kitty litter, oxygen bottles, hot plates and other items were seen strewn about inside the day manager's office.

The Kansas City Health Department has closed the motel. It will not reopen until the owner isi able to clean all the rooms and get the building up to code.

"We had concerns with the safety of people who are coming here to stay," said Sgt. Danny Graves, with the Kansas City Police Department. "They get here, rent a room in the middle of the night, not knowing about the activity or danger they could be in."

Authorities say crime and drugs have run rampant at the motel. They responded to a rape there last week and a robbery two weeks ago.

“I never got any complaints all the way to me,” motel owner Mike Patel said. “If I had complaints, then I would know.”

Patel said he was as surprised as anyone else to hear of the problems at his motel.

Police on scene tell 41 Action News they are working to relocate the unspecified number of people who were staying at the hotel. Investigators said about 50 rooms were being rented as of Wednesday morning, but they believe several other rooms were being lived in as well.

It was not immediately clear charges those arrested may face.

Patel faces fines, authorities said.