Chief witness against Ted Binion in jail on outstanding warrants

Friday, Aug. 15, 1997 | 9:41 a.m.

Life is full of ironies.

Thomas Lee Woodward -- the gasoline station attendant who alleges suspended Horseshoe Club executive Ted Binion pulled a loaded shotgun on him -- knows all about that today.

Woodward is in jail.

He was arrested by Metro Police on Thursday on outstanding traffic warrants.

But the real irony is that North Las Vegas Police also want him on warrants of kidnapping, impersonating a police officer and aiming a firearm at a person.

North Las Vegas officers have asked Metro to hold Woodward at the Clark County Detention Center until they have a chance to process him on their outstanding warrants.

Earlier in the week, the 20-year-old Woodward was the chief witness who enabled Metro Police to arrest Binion at his home on charges of burglary and assault with a weapon. Binion later was released on bail.

According to police, Binion had gotten into an argument with Woodward on Sunday night while pumping gasoline at a Texaco service station at 1509 W. Charleston Blvd.

Binion's older brother, Horseshoe President Jack Binion, was with the suspended executive when the altercation broke out, sources said.

But the older Binion was not present when Ted returned with the shotgun an hour later, police said.

Keith Copher, chief of enforcement for the Gaming Control Board, said agents interviewed Jack Binion on Thursday, but decided against taking action against him.

"We've concluded he played no role in the altercation with the shotgun," Copher said today. "The incident is not likely to affect the Horseshoe Club's license."

Agents are waiting for the outcome of the criminal case against Ted Binion, ordered to stay out of the Horseshoe's operations, before deciding whether to take further action against him.

"Being in trouble seems to be Teddy's constant companion," Control Board Chairman Bill Bible said. "We're certainly going to carefully review this matter."

In May, before the Nevada Gaming Commission suspended Binion's license indefinitely, the Control Board filed a complaint against the Horseshoe co-owner over his ties to murdered underworld figure Herbie Blitzstein.

Two months ago, Binion's home and car were sprayed with bullets in a drive-by shooting. Metro Police intelligence detectives, who monitor organized crime, were assigned to the case, which remains unsolved.

At the gasoline station Sunday night, according to police reports, Binion was sprayed with pepper spray during the argument. He left and allegedly returned an hour later with the loaded shotgun.

Woodward told police Binion tried to point the shotgun at him, but the attendant grabbed the barrel and sprayed Binion in the face again. Binion then allegedly fled the scene without paying for the gasoline.

Police found Binion at his home, and he turned over the shotgun, which was loaded with a 12-gauge slug, the report said.

Binion, police said, denied pointing the shotgun at Woodward.

Officers, however, arrested Binion and impounded his car, a 1997 Ford utility vehicle, along with several guns found in his house.

Woodward reportedly told police he had seen a handgun in Binion's waistband during the confrontation at the service station.