SUV drives through Phoenix motel wall after dispute over loud music, police say

A man is facing multiple felony charges after police say he intentionally drove at two motel employees before crashing his SUV directly into a motel room on Tuesday night, trapping and injuring a man inside, authorities said.

Paul Hanley, 63, was arrested and booked into jail on three counts of aggravated assault following the incident at a motel near the Interstate 17 access road, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Officers responded to the scene near Thomas Road and 23rd Avenue around 9:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a vehicle crashing into a building.

According to investigators, the situation began when two motel employees confronted Hanley about complaints regarding loud music coming from his gray Nissan Rogue, which was parked in the lot. Police say Hanley became verbally aggressive, reversed out of his parking space and then drove directly toward the two workers.

The employees were able to jump out of the way before Hanley’s vehicle slammed into the motel building.

The force of the crash punched through the wall of a motel room, a man was alone inside. Investigators said the impact knocked him from his bed, and he became trapped under the motel wall wreckage

Witnesses on the scene detained Hanley and held him until officers arrived.

Phoenix Fire Department personnel rescued the trapped victim from the room and transported him to a local hospital.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Hanley is being held on $75,000 bond.

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