By Jim Emerson
NOVATO, CA — An unemployed woman frequently in trouble with law was arrested after allegedly
causing a disturbance at a hotel.
Melissa G. Smith, 49, of Healdsburg, was taken into custody this time by Novato police.
The disturbance was reported May 31 shortly before 8 p.m. Novato police responded to the
Courtyard by Marriott hotel, 1400 North Hamilton Parkway.
The incident happened on the second floor, but the suspect left the premises before officers arrived.
Smith walked to an adjacent McDonald’s restaurant at 5600 Nave Drive, where the police
found her. An identification check revealed that she had four outstanding misdemeanor bench
warrants. Smith was placed under arrest at 8:20 p.m.
Smith was transported to Marin County Jail, where she remains in custody in lieu of $20,000
bond. Smith was booked on warrants for defrauding an innkeeper, shoplifting, resisting and battery on a police officer/emergency personnel.
Smith has been arrested 14 times since October 2019 in Marin, Sonoma, Santa Clara, and
Tulare counties. She has three prior arrests for defrauding an innkeeper by nonpayment.
Smith has previous arrests involving alcohol and drugs, grand theft, receiving stolen property,
among other offenses. She was also arrested previously for battery, identity theft, writing bad
checks, fraud, and for failure to appear in court.
