A Tennessee hotel manager is accused of entering a guest’s room without permission and performing sex acts on the victim’s feet, WKRN-TV reports.
Police on Friday arrested 52-year-old David Neal at his home in Lebanon in connection with the disturbing incident.
Authorities allege that on March 30, Neal was working as the night manager at a Hilton hotel in downtown Nashville when he made his own key card and then entered the hotel guest’s room around 5 a.m.
The guest, Peter Brennan, said he awoke to find Neal sucking on his toes.
“I was in Nashville for a work conference,” Brennan told News Channel 5. “I awoke to a gentleman, an employee of the Hilton, assaulting me.”
Brennan confronted Neal immediately and recognized him as a hotel employee because Neal had come to his room one day earlier with another worker to resolve a problem with the television.
“Instantly jumped up and was screaming. Went into sort of fact-finding mode. ‘Who are you? Why are you in my room? What are you doing here?’” Brennan told News Channel 5. “I could see he was wearing a uniform, he had his name tag on. He was talking to me but not giving me any substantive answers.”
Brennan called police. When officers from the Nashville Metro Police Department arrived at the hotel, they interviewed Neal, who allegedly admitted to entering Brennan’s room but claimed he had smelled smoke and wanted to check on the occupant.
However, Neal had not reported any smoke to security and police did not identify any other reports of smoke in the hotel at the time.
Investigators did not recover the room key that Neal allegedly used to access the room; he reportedly said that he threw the key away.
In a statement, the owner of the downtown Nashville Hilton told News Channel 5: “The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority. We are working closely with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and, as part of company policy, we do not comment on ongoing investigations.”
Neal has been charged with aggravated burglary and assault, according to FOX 17. He is being held on $27,000 bond.
Brennan, who has filed a lawsuit against Neal and Hilton, said the ordeal has left him shaken.
“I’m having problems sleeping, frankly. I’m going through some PTSD, talking to a therapist,” Brennan told News Channel 5. “I still don’t really feel safe in my own home.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: David Neal/Nashville Metro Police Department]
