BARNWELL, S.C. — A South Carolina man was arrested early Sunday after deputies say he wandered through a rural hotel knocking on doors and asking strangers if he could use their showers and “have a little fun,” a claim he later blamed on sleepwalking.
The Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded just after 3 a.m. to the Creekside Lodge, a small hotel on the outskirts of Barnwell surrounded by farmland and wooded backroads. Guests reported a man going room to room, knocking repeatedly and urging occupants to let him in.
According to an incident report, some guests told deputies the man said he “needed a shower” and was also “looking to have some fun,” leaving several occupants startled and concerned. One guest said she woke up to persistent knocking and heard the man say, “Come on, let me in for a minute.”
Deputies found the man — identified as 31-year-old Marcus Holloway of Williston — standing barefoot near an ice machine at the end of a hallway. Holloway told deputies he believed he had been sleepwalking and had “no clear memory” of the interactions.
Holloway reportedly claimed he was exhausted from work and “must have drifted into some kind of sleepwalking episode,” but deputies noted he smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared unsteady on his feet. According to the report, Holloway gave inconsistent answers about how much he had been drinking before going to bed.
Hotel staff confirmed Holloway was a registered guest and had not caused issues earlier in the night.
Holloway was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and public intoxication. No injuries were reported, though several guests requested room changes following the incident.
The sheriff’s office said while Holloway did not attempt to force entry into any rooms, his behavior caused “significant alarm” among guests.
The investigation remains ongoing.