A violent felony arrest in the blackjack pit

[MisterV]

Never antagonize anyone with a weapon ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SECURITY GUARDS AT SUNCOAST WERE NOT ARMED.

I'm no expert on casino security (my dad was, years ago, but that's another story), but I'd be willing to bet that an armed plain clothes casino employee was probably nearby, poised and ready, as the fracas unfolded.

[Alan Mendelson]

Never antagonize anyone with a weapon ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SECURITY GUARDS AT SUNCOAST WERE NOT ARMED.

I'm no expert on casino security (my dad was, years ago, but that's another story), but I'd be willing to bet that an armed plain clothes casino employee was probably nearby, poised and ready, as the fracas unfolded.

Until Wynn announced it was adding armed security I don't know of ANY Vegas casino that had armed security. Their philosophy was never risk gunfire hurting a customer.

I once posted about an event at Caesars. A player who got upset at a dealer shoved that dealer and within seconds two plain clothes security agents got up from a blackjack table and grabbed the assailant. That's when I discovered Caesars had plain clothes security playing in the casino. But no weapons.

I honestly doubt there are many armed security guards in Vegas today. Many of the big casinos on the Strip might, but Suncoast? How many 70 year olds playing penny keno do you think are packing?

Damn... in three years I'll be 70. I'd better get a Saturday night special.

[Alan Mendelson]

Response from Suncoast security department:

I would like to thank you for writing to us about your recent experience here at the Suncoast. We are looking into the matter and gathering all the details in order to have a thorough and appropriate response. Our Director of Security, will reach out to you by the end of the week as this incident and every patron's security and comfort is of the utmost importance to us.

[MisterV]

Whoa, don't tell the nefarious thieves who lurk in and around Las Vegas that there are no guns on the casino premises.

They could seemingly rob the joint with impunity, simply by flashing a pistol or two.

[Alan Mendelson]

Whoa, don't tell the nefarious thieves who lurk in and around Las Vegas that there are no guns on the casino premises.

They could seemingly rob the joint with impunity, simply by flashing a pistol or two.

Guess what V. The casinos would rather they took 100k than risk a shootout.

[MisterV]

I have to believe that most casinos have at least one or more employees who are armed on the premises at all times.

Not uniformed security guards, but guys / gals in dress clothes who have been trained, at least a little bit, on "shoot/don't shoot" scenarios.

But I confess I am just playing a hunch on this one.

Anybody out there know for sure whether casinos in Las Vegas have at least one armed employee on the premises?

[Alan Mendelson]

MisterV the card casinos in LA all have armed security walking around. It's a different "business model" than Vegas.

Sorry, but in Vegas it's SOP is no guns. Frankly I don't know if Wynn really has guns on the casino floor despite their claim.

[mickeycrimm]

MisterV the card casinos in LA all have armed security walking around. It's a different "business model" than Vegas.

Sorry, but in Vegas it's SOP is no guns. Frankly I don't know if Wynn really has guns on the casino floor despite their claim.

As long as the Binions owned the Horseshoe their security guards openly packed. Their weapons were on their hips.

[MaxPen]

MisterV the card casinos in LA all have armed security walking around. It's a different "business model" than Vegas.

Sorry, but in Vegas it's SOP is no guns. Frankly I don't know if Wynn really has guns on the casino floor despite their claim.

As long as the Binions owned the Horseshoe their security guards openly packed. Their weapons were on their hips.

Those guards at the Long Horn on Boulder have 3 to 4 options of weapons to shoot someone. Strip casinos have armed Emergency Response Teams.

[Midwest Player]

At the Riverside casino in Laughlin security carries guns on their hip for all to see. The Nugget in Wendover security carries open weapons (guns) for all to see. In other Wendover casinos security has a suit coat on so you can't tell in they are carrying.

[Dan Druff]

I've deleted some troll posts here. I have not kicked anyone from the thread yet, but will do it shortly if this continues.

[pepe]

As I was walking thru Suncoast last night to use my free play I was an eyewitness to a violent felony arrest in their blackjack pit which is by the main entrance.

I saw no less than six uniformed security men pounce on and wrestle and subdue to the floor a man who may have been about six feet tall, and he struggled every bit of the way. He even struggled as they carried (repeat: carried) him out thru the casino.

There was so much commotion and yelling that the casino came to a halt to watch. And within a few minutes the details became known.

The man who got pounced on was a known cheater. He would post bet and remove chips when the cards were not in his favor. He had a history of doing this at the Suncoast, which has many young and inexperienced dealers. He was warned before and was told to leave the property before, was what I was told.

This time they were ready for him. They had the NGC there monitoring his play and cheating and got it on tape, and when they had enough evidence they took him down.

I think the actual struggle happened as he attempted to walk out. I head him yelling "why are you doing this to me?" as they carried him thru the casino.

Twice he squirmed out of the arms of the uniformed personnel and dropped to the casino floor as they carried him away.

It was quite a scene.

Casino security used to be a lot more competent and subtle (at least, in view of the public)

[redietz]

MisterV the card casinos in LA all have armed security walking around. It's a different "business model" than Vegas.

Sorry, but in Vegas it's SOP is no guns. Frankly I don't know if Wynn really has guns on the casino floor despite their claim.

As long as the Binions owned the Horseshoe their security guards openly packed. Their weapons were on their hips.

Mickey is correct; I remember this. Did it have to do with the million dollars being on the floor?

[Alan Mendelson]

I just had a lengthy phone conversation with the director of security at Suncoast. They say Gaming was totally at fault and Gaming was unprepared for what happened and the Security guards at Suncoast were drawn into the event. Here are the details.

Gaming had this player under surveillance and Suncoast was unaware except that they were advised Gaming was on property.

The player was wanted for violations at many casinos in Nevada.

The player was a "big" man physically, and I can confirm this. The two Gaming agents who tried to arrest him at the table were not big at all. The Gaming agents were unprepared for the player's resistance.

While the player didn't strike a Gaming agent he fell to the floor taking the two Gaming agents down with him. The Gaming agents got on their radios and said "officer needs assistance." When Suncoast's security heard that all of their guards responded not knowing what the situation was.

While the player wasn't violent he continued to resist being arrested and would drop to the ground or wiggle out of the hands of security guards to drop to the floor.

The director of security called it an "ugly situation" and said the Gaming agents were not prepared and seemingly thought this player would simply walk out of the casino when they flashed their badges.

"It's not how we operate" the director of security said to me over and over again. "We're sorry this disturbed our patrons. This was a Gaming operation."

And I asked "and they were unprepared?" And he agreed.

[Dan Druff]

What a mess.

Who knows what the truth is though?

This may be just spin from Suncoast.

[AxelWolf]

I just had a lengthy phone conversation with the director of security at Suncoast. They say Gaming was totally at fault and Gaming was unprepared for what happened and the Security guards at Suncoast were drawn into the event. Here are the details.

Gaming had this player under surveillance and Suncoast was unaware except that they were advised Gaming was on property.

The player was wanted for violations at many casinos in Nevada.

The player was a "big" man physically, and I can confirm this. The two Gaming agents who tried to arrest him at the table were not big at all. The Gaming agents were unprepared for the player's resistance.

While the player didn't strike a Gaming agent he fell to the floor taking the two Gaming agents down with him. The Gaming agents got on their radios and said "officer needs assistance." When Suncoast's security heard that all of their guards responded not knowing what the situation was.

While the player wasn't violent he continued to resist being arrested and would drop to the ground or wiggle out of the hands of security guards to drop to the floor.

The director of security called it an "ugly situation" and said the Gaming agents were not prepared and seemingly thought this player would simply walk out of the casino when they flashed their badges.

"It's not how we operate" the director of security said to me over and over again. "We're sorry this disturbed our patrons. This was a Gaming operation."

And I asked "and they were unprepared?" And he agreed.

Good Job getting more details on this. It certainly all makes much more sence now.

I have a feeling most of the time it only takes 2 gaming agents in a situation like this. Especially, since the cheater has no clue what evidence they actually have on them. It could be a simple suspicion and they just want to talk to him. Its probably better to act innocent than to act out add more charges and go to jail for sure.

[MaxPen]

I just had a lengthy phone conversation with the director of security at Suncoast. They say Gaming was totally at fault and Gaming was unprepared for what happened and the Security guards at Suncoast were drawn into the event. Here are the details.

Gaming had this player under surveillance and Suncoast was unaware except that they were advised Gaming was on property.

The player was wanted for violations at many casinos in Nevada.

The player was a "big" man physically, and I can confirm this. The two Gaming agents who tried to arrest him at the table were not big at all. The Gaming agents were unprepared for the player's resistance.

While the player didn't strike a Gaming agent he fell to the floor taking the two Gaming agents down with him. The Gaming agents got on their radios and said "officer needs assistance." When Suncoast's security heard that all of their guards responded not knowing what the situation was.

While the player wasn't violent he continued to resist being arrested and would drop to the ground or wiggle out of the hands of security guards to drop to the floor.

The director of security called it an "ugly situation" and said the Gaming agents were not prepared and seemingly thought this player would simply walk out of the casino when they flashed their badges.

"It's not how we operate" the director of security said to me over and over again. "We're sorry this disturbed our patrons. This was a Gaming operation."

And I asked "and they were unprepared?" And he agreed.

Finally, something worthy of a reporter. Good job Alan.

[Rob.Singer]

When you see one report as doing a good job, you see every piece of work by that reporter as being a good job. That includes his reporting of witnessing 18 straight yo's.

I also just saw my name as being in a six-pak of the latest threads' posts. Makes sense since we've got company here for a few weeks, and I don't get along with one of my loud-mouthed/fat assed cousins from the East Coast who's here mooching off us.

But....I do get along with my wife's sister's 27-yr. old son who's also here, and whom I'm proud to say just got promoted to Special Agent in the FBI, Tucson/Phoenix/LV regional offices for the next 12 months minimum. At last....someone to go shooting with.

[quahaug]

As I was walking thru Suncoast last night to use my free play I was an eyewitness to a violent felony arrest in their blackjack pit which is by the main entrance.

I saw no less than six uniformed security men pounce on and wrestle and subdue to the floor a man who may have been about six feet tall, and he struggled every bit of the way. He even struggled as they carried (repeat: carried) him out thru the casino.

There was so much commotion and yelling that the casino came to a halt to watch. And within a few minutes the details became known.

The man who got pounced on was a known cheater. He would post bet and remove chips when the cards were not in his favor. He had a history of doing this at the Suncoast, which has many young and inexperienced dealers. He was warned before and was told to leave the property before, was what I was told.

This time they were ready for him. They had the NGC there monitoring his play and cheating and got it on tape, and when they had enough evidence they took him down.

I think the actual struggle happened as he attempted to walk out. I head him yelling "why are you doing this to me?" as they carried him thru the casino.

Twice he squirmed out of the arms of the uniformed personnel and dropped to the casino floor as they carried him away.

It was quite a scene.

Casino security used to be a lot more competent and subtle (at least, in view of the public)

I guess the guy had pretty good eyesight being able to read the dealers cards from another table.

[Alan Mendelson]

Quahaug, it was a movie.