TWO ARRESTED FOR MOTEL MISCHIEF

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Two out-of-town visitors are arrested after police say they were up to no good at a Lincolnton motel.

Officers responded to the Comfort Inn on East Main Street around 5 p.m. Saturday to find that a vending machine had been broken into with money missing.

A guest at the hotel first alerted authorities, saying he heard loud noises outside of his room. When the guest went to investigate the sounds, he saw the two men shaking the snack machine.

Responding officer Lt. R. Willis held the two men until backup arrived.

They're identified as Keith McNeely, 41, of Charlotte and David Michael Loftin, 26, of York, S.C.

Authorities say both men were uncooperative with the investigation and aren't telling police much.

They claimed to be visiting a guest in the motel that wasn't even registered to the motel.

Authorities investigating at the scene found an empty coin holder inside a trash can near where the vending machine break-in took place.

Loftin was taken to jail under a $7,500 secured bond while McNeely was given a $1,000 bond. Both are due in court on Oct. 18.