Homeless man accused of murder at Rodeway Inn in Dania Beach
A homeless man staying at the Rodeway Inn in Dania Beach killed another guest Sunday morning in one of the hotel rooms, according to city and police records.
Three days later, on Wednesday, Broward Sheriff’s deputies found Alphonso Washington hiding in his room and booked him on murder charges.
Washington, 59, wound up at the Rodeway Inn after Fort Lauderdale handed out free hotel vouchers in early May to dozens of homeless people to get them off the streets and help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The program ended in mid-July when the city ran out of money.
Several of the homeless guests were sent to shelters or returned to the streets.
But 38 people, including Washington, stayed behind at the hotel after the political group New Florida Majority agreed to pay for their rooms.
A hotel manager says the group stopped paying for the rooms on Sunday — the same day of the murder.
And Wednesday night, hours after Washington’s arrest, the hotel’s remaining homeless guests got a letter from the Rodeway Inn telling them they need to check out by 9 a.m. Thursday.
The letter, obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, says New Florida Majority “has exceeded their funding” and can no longer support the program.
“Your stay ends tomorrow, Thursday August 6 at 9 a.m.,” the letter goes on to say. “Please gather all your belongings and leave the room clean. We will not be responsible for any personal items.”
The letter comes with this warning: “After 10 a.m. you are required to leave our property and facility, as well you must leave the city of Dania Beach. This is an order by BSO and city of Dania. BSO officers will be here at 10 a.m. to help facilitate the move and transfer.”
The letter signs off with “God Bless You, the management.”
The letter was news to Commissioner Chickie Brandimarte.
“They’re ordering them out of the city?” she said, her voice rising with surprise. “How do you do that? This is unbelievable.”
Mayor Lori Lewellen said she has neither seen nor authorized any such order that the homeless leave the city.
“We never ordered the homeless to leave Dania Beach,” she said in a text.
City Manager Ana Garcia sent an email to the commission Wednesday that read in part: “I just spoke to our Chief regarding a homicide at the Rodeway Inn. The suspect is in custody.”
Capt. Daniel Marks, district chief for the Broward Sheriff’s Office assigned to Dania Beach, sent an email Wednesday to the city manager giving her an update on the murder: “On 8/2/2020 we received a call from staff at the Rodeway Inn who advised they found a male bleeding on the floor in a room. Upon our arrival we found the victim deceased. Homicide and Crime Scene Units responded. The victim was a paying guest at the hotel. On 8/5/2020 we received information that the suspect was hiding in a room at the motel. He was taken into custody without incident.”
Michael Morris, a spokesman for New Florida Majority, declined to comment on Wednesday, referring questions to his supervisor.
She did not return a call seeking comment.
This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Susannah Bryan can be reached for comment at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4554
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