A Mississippi hotel clerk sensed something wasn’t quite right when a man showed up and checked into a hotel with a baby while acting bizarre. The clerk’s quick thinking resulted in the man’s arrest and a missing baby found safely.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a Ramada Inn clerk in Pearl, Mississippi, contacted police after a man who checked into a hotel room Monday night with a baby behaved so oddly that it alerted her that something wasn’t quite right. When police arrived they determined that the suspect, later identified as Michael Christopher Diaz, drove a stolen car to the motel and was under the influence of marijuana.

“He was under the influence of marijuana, we know for sure, because that’s what alerted her,” Pearl Police Chief Dean Scott said, according to ABC16.

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Authorities reportedly used a stun gun on Diaz before he surrendered. Mississippi authorities took care of the baby until she was returned to her family. Police said the baby smelled of marijuana.

“He gave up a fight in the room. I heard that he had to be tased,” a hotel employee, Christina Campbell, said. He said something along the lines of he was going to have to be killed before he gave the baby up. So, they did tase the dad, so he did put up a fight.”

Pearl authorities indicated that the suspect is the father of the infant, but it’s unclear whether he had legal rights to take her across state lines. The infant girl was reported missing from Dallas, Georgia. She’s now back with her family.

Authorities said Diaz may have been on his way to California with the baby before the clerk intervened.

Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.

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[Feature Photo: Michael Christopher Diaz/Pearl PD]