Man arrested after rooftop chase tied to drug, suspicious package investigation

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Police say the man who led officers on a bizarre chase is connected to a drug, weapons and suspicious device investigation at a DeKalb County hotel.
 
Police were called to the Holiday Inn on Chamblee-Dunwoody Road near Interstate 285 to investigate possible drug activity that eventually led to a full evacuation of the entire hotel.
 
Guests were made to wait outside the hotel for hours as police, fire and bomb squad crews looked into a suspicious device found inside a fifth-floor room.
 
"I was told to just get out, evacuate. Didn't know what was going on," said Sharita Leon, who was staying at the hotel. "That was quite an experience."
 
That experience began when a hotel employee called Brookhaven police to report possible drug activity inside a room.
 
When officers arrived a man ran. A Channel 2 Action News camera caught exclusive video of his every move as he dangled from a tree and even made a dangerous jump trying to get away.
 
Police eventually took the man into custody along with three others. That man was identified as 31-year-old Brandon Hughes.
 
When investigators went inside their fifth-floor room they found drugs, weapons and a suspicious device that required the immediate evacuation of the entire hotel.
 
"We have at this point cleared the entire hotel, we've got everyone out for their safety," said Lt. Brandon Gurley with the Brookhaven Police Department.
 
As a bomb squad investigated, hotel employees did their best to accommodate frustrated guests, many of whom said they were shocked, to say the least.
 
"To know that this could happen, anywhere, this is a pretty safe neighborhood. You wouldn't think that of this hotel and stuff like this happens. It's crazy," Leon said.

They were allowed back in the hotel by Friday morning after the device was determined not to be a hazzard.
 
The four suspects are at the DeKalb County jail, facing multiple charges. Police said three of the four men were already wanted on outstanding warrants.

WSBTV