Scarborough Country senior producer Mike Tirone just came back from a vacation in Aruba and coincidentally stayed at the same hotel where one of the suspects in the Natalee Holloway case worked as a security guard. Tirone met and interacted with the security guard and appeared on Monday's program to discuss his experience.
An excerpt of the segment:
Joe Scarborough: Mike, I know that you were very surprised. We talked about this before the show, obviously. You're looking on TV and one of the suspects in the Natalee Holloway disappearance and possible -- we hope not, but possible murder, is a guy you interacted with. Tell me about him.
Mike Tirone: Joe, we were in Aruba at the Allegra resort for about 10 days. We interacted with this security guard. He was high-fiving my 7-year-old son. We had -- we saw him on a daily occurrence every day. I would take a jog and talk to him.
He was a really nice guy. He had a lot of charisma. He was a fun guy. He went out of his way to help people. And I was very surprised. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the AP and MSNBC put his face up. It was a real surprise.
Scarborough: You know, Mike, we're actually looking at some of the video ... from the resort where you stayed. We're looking at it right now. I mean, this place looks like a tropical paradise. And you told me that -- that, again, very charismatic, that you would not be surprised at all that an American -- that an American tourist, like Natalee Holloway, would certainly approach a guy like this and certainly not fear for her life, again, a very charismatic character.
Tirone: Yes. He would -- I could see how Natalee would trust this guy. This guy has a way about him that made you feel warm. He -- like I said, my 7-year-old was high-fiving him. I talked to him regularly. He was just a nice guy. He had -- you know, he had a nice, warm smile.
Scarborough: And, Mike, Aruba is a very safe place, right?
Tirone: Yes. Aruba is one of the safest places. I mean, we would go out and walk every night. So did everybody. And I -- it's known as being one of the safest islands in the Caribbean.
Scarborough: Yes. That's strange. Well, Mike, thanks so much. We greatly appreciate you being with us.
Watch 'Scarborough Country' every night at 10 p.m. ET on MSNBC, and read Joe's blogs at .
