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Indian origin motel owner arrested for police obstruction in Ohio
The Springfield Township Police have alleged that the man interfered during an investigation regarding a captive woman.
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Anushka Pathak - Sat, 21, Feb 2026
- 15:48 EST
- 24
Dipakkumar Patel, owner of the Office Motel in Springfield Township / Courtesy: Facebook/Springfield Township Police Department
Springfield Township police charged an Indian motel owner with obstructing their investigation into allegations of a woman being held against her will at his property, leading to his arrest.
Dipakkumar Patel, owner of the Office Motel on Massillon Road in Springfield Township, was arrested Feb. 17 and booked into Summit County Jail, according to Springfield Township Police.
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He was charged with obstructing official business and tampering with records. The investigation began Feb. 3, when officers responded multiple times to the motel following reports that a woman was being held by a man and was in immediate danger. Police said information provided to officers indicated “that the female was not free to leave and needed immediate assistance.”
Officers located the woman on the property and arrested the male suspect, who had an active warrant. Authorities said additional criminal allegations against him are under review.
Police later determined that motel records had been altered. The guest register did not reflect the woman’s presence, and Patel allegedly failed to accurately report the number of occupied rooms while officers were at the scene. Authorities said he withheld “critical information” that could have helped officers locate the woman more quickly, delaying their response.
Police emphasized that Patel was not accused of directly holding the woman captive and that the charges relate solely to alleged interference with the investigation.
In the body camera footage released by authorities, an officer informed Patel of the charges, stating he had not provided proper information on Feb. 3. Patel responded, “I did not know what was going on with the woman.” He also said that “it (what the cops asked him) slipped out of his mind,” prompting the officer to respond that as the motel owner, he was required to remember such details.
In a statement, the Springfield Township Police Department said it has responded to numerous incidents at the property and would continue enforcement efforts when individuals or businesses interfere with operations or put community members at risk. “This type of behavior will not be tolerated,” the department said, adding that officers remain committed to protecting victims and holding offenders accountable.
The department said the investigation remains ongoing. No additional details were released about the woman’s condition or the full scope of charges facing the male suspect.
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