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Published Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010 | 9:30 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010 | 4:17 p.m.
Audio Clip
- Metro Police Lt. Clint Nichols speaks about a kidnapping on the Strip last Friday during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
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Metro Police on Wednesday said a man reported that he was kidnapped on a Las Vegas Strip pedestrian bridge, held captive for more than 24 hours and robbed.
Police Lt. Clint Nichols said a wealthy, 40-year-old businessman who frequently visits Las Vegas was abducted about 5 a.m. Friday when returning to his hotel room at Caesars Palace. The investigation is in its early stages, but police described it as an isolated incident. (Police initially reported the incident occurred Saturday morning, but announced during an afternoon news conference that the victim was abducted Friday morning.)
“Las Vegas has a reputation and we want people to come here and have a good time, but sometimes that can get you in trouble,” he said.
Nichols said the victim was confronted by a man who asked for money on a pedestrian bridge at Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road. The victim gave the man money and turned to leave, but then was held at gunpoint by the man and a woman, police said.
The two then forced the man to get into the backseat of their vehicle, described as an older four-door sedan, parked nearby. Nichols said police haven’t been able to determine the car's location because the victim was drunk during the incident.
He said the man was taken to a two-story apartment complex with a flat roof, where he was confronted by two other people and placed in an empty room.
“Our victim, while being kept in the residence for over 24 hours, was beaten and battered,” Nichols said. “He had his wallet, some jewelry, all of his ATM cards taken, along with his room key.”
The suspects withdrew money from the man's bank account, police said, then wanted him to open casino lines of credit and give them money. Investigators said two suspects also raided his hotel room and were recorded by a Caesars Palace surveillance camera.
Police released photos of the two people suspected in the robbery after interviewing the victim’s partner, who told police he thought the victim had removed the items from the room.
The victim told police he passed out while being beaten and awakened to find himself covered up in the backseat of a car, Nichols said. The victim escaped from captivity after the suspects got into an argument over what to do with the man, police said.
When two of the suspects got out of the car the man was able to escape, police said, and he ran toward a desert area and hid in a culvert. The suspects looked for the man but left after a short period of time.
Police said the man walked to a convenience store near Russell Road and Polaris Avenue and called 911 about 8 a.m. Saturday. Paramedics treated the man’s bruises and released him, Nichols said.
Police are looking for four suspects tied to the incident. Nichols said they could face charges of kidnapping and robbery with a deadly weapon.
The man who approached the victim on the pedestrian bridge was described as black, 45 to 50 years old and 5-foot-11 with a medium build and a gray beard, wearing a white hat and glasses. The woman was described as black, 22 to 27 years old and 5-foot-5 with a medium build and short hair dyed red in the front.
The man in a photo released by police who is suspected of robbing the victim's hotel room was described as black, 27 to 33 years old and 6-foot-2 with a medium build, bald and well-dressed. The woman in the photo was described as black, 37 to 44 years old and 5-foot-11 with a heavy build, long black hair and well-dressed.
Anyone with information is being asked to call the Metro Police robbery section at 702-828-3591.
This is very disturbing. There are spots on the strip that can seem scary late at night and both bridges going from the Trop fit that. I hope they catch these idiots before they attack again. I have walked those same bridges late on several occasions and am always on the look out for something that doesn't fit, but you can't walk away from gunpoint. Let's hope they have more camera angles on the couple at the hotel. Let's also hope the guy got a good description of the vehicle and perhaps a license number. How about a public hanging from the bridge? Can we do that in this case?
Sounds to me like a prostitution deal gone bad..
Wow, I am wicked shocked by the description....
isupportvegas, I support your idea!! A public hanging would be perfect for these scumbags!!
Best to carry your concealed carry handgun on the strip too.
This sounds "fishy". WHY this guy? And his hotel room is being robbed at the same time? What if this "random victim" had no money in his bank account? (which is not that uncommon). What if he couldn't get any casino credit because he didn't qualify? Would they (a) kill him or (b) move on to someone else who "MAY" have money?
There is more to this......
goingbust , Good Idea!!!
Are you allowed to carry a concealed handgun while gambling in the casino or having a drink in a bar?
The fact that this happenend only a day after MLK Day is very upsetting. What could have driven this couple to do this? Could it be the bad economy or some discrimination that caused them to not get employed?
Danutz hit the nail on the head: Trick Roll.
I am sure he was robbed etc. But I bet he didn't meet anyone on any pedestrian bridge, but that may be where he got the little card with her picture and phone number.
I agree with Det here, sounds like a lot more to this story behind the scenes.
no, laguna.
it's liberals like you that try to "victimize" criminals that keep people like this on the streets.
i guarantee...when they find these people, this will not have been their first criminal activity.
instead of criminals being put to death like they should be, you liberals want to give them a hug and a kiss.
that being said...this is obviously a "trick" gone bad and i doubt he was randomly selected at gunpoint on the strip. he was probably held up in his room.
Gee, at least get robbed by a "pretty" prostitute and not a walrus from Boulder Hwy.
"The fact that this happenend only a day after MLK Day is very upsetting. What could have driven this couple to do this? Could it be the bad economy or some discrimination that caused them to not get employed?"
Oh man,don't be so naieve!!!!
stevem... Why don't you give Senator John Ensign a big conservative kiss?
"Change We Can Believe In" strikes again!
"Are you allowed to carry a concealed handgun while gambling in the casino or having a drink in a bar?"
Gambling, probably yes. Drinking, probably no. If businesses want to exclude people from carrying weapons, they have to post it. Casinos don't do this, none of the strip ones at least.
No, his hotel room wasn't robbed at the same time. They kidnapped him, took the room key and then went to the hotel. And how you think this has anything to do with the current adminstration, JPM42, is beyond me. Of course there was zero crime before 2008. Right.
Scary in that I've walked that bridge and especially the bridge between T.I. and the Venetian many times back when I was gambling a lot, at times carrying up to $100,000. in cash stuffed in a couple of manila envelopes.
One time the Venetian casino security insisted on accompanying me half way across the bridge, where T.I. security met us and took over.
modd, Why can't we be friends? :)
"And how you think this has anything to do with the current adminstration, JPM42, is beyond me. Of course there was zero crime before 2008. Right."
Look beyond DNC/LV Sun/Reid talking points and THINK.
FACT: When people are out of work some commit crimes! The unemployment rate among African Americans is 17%! Under Obama their unemployment rate is approaching a 25 year high with NO END IN SIGHT!
Obama has focused MUCH more energy/political capital on Health Care instead of jobs.
Instead of incentivizing small and large business and get them expand the workforce - his policies raise taxes and create uncertainty. We're spending Millions of stimulus dollars creating or saving phantom jobs. How many years have the Dems talked about green jobs?
Green Jobs do not exist!
Obama is prospering while his die-hard supporters are suffering.
@JPM42
And just think, you get 3 more years of him being your president. . . hahahaha. Life sucks for you.
Not really since in less than 10 months Senator Harry Reid will be voted out :-)
You can carry a concealed gun at a casino as long as they don't see it, you can drink, but can't be drunk. A number of people are going to the Indian casinos, no taxes, less crime, less gas to get there. They charge for drinks, but soda and coffee are free. BYOB bring your own bottle and spike you soda.
Where is Metro? I thought because of the tax increase we are going to be safe? This is their fault.
the guy gave up his bank info but when they wanted him to open up a line of credit at the casino he said he would rather take his chances at escaping...
I just don't know how you could possibly open a line at a casino without showing up. I would have volunteered for that immediately (IRL I would have killed them all with my concealed carry piece, but let's assume I'm not me). You have to walk into a casino, in front of high res and archived cameras with the perps, and there are a lot of chances to escape. I would have just walked up to the first guard after the first bank of cameras and let him deal with the thug(s).
One thing Las Vegas is not doing is patrolling the strip 24/7. They should be driving all day and night and patrolling our streets too. There will be less crime that way. They need to be seen!!!!
That's just one simple plan at least for now :)
I haven't figured out the Las Vegas criminal mind. Why in the world would you commit a crime in the most video cameraed place in the world?
Somebody please tell Oscar Goodman that people aren't coming to Las Vegas because of the economy but also because the Strip is a dangerous place to be. Wasn't it less than a year ago that some poor soul got his head bashed with a rock at the Caesar's end of one of those bridges?
I wouldn't go to the Strip if you sent me there in a Limo... There are much, much better places to spend your time and money, ie. Red Rock, M, South Point, Alliante (sp?), Cannery, most station casinos...
Oscar, the criminal element and the corporate mind is doing you in...
This is most likely a cover story for drug deal or prostitution deal gone awry. We'll see if the follow up report looks anything like this.
...This is amazing...
This town is absolutly hurting for business,
and now, another worry is tourists getting messed with on the Strip...
All that care about conserving Vegas in the long run should way care about stuff like this, because as long as one thinks this an "Isolated incident"
All you gotta do is have a brain, get on the internet for over 9 months and research, and live here for more than a minute, read local news...Its never ending...
Thanks to all that perpetuated this incident....You're a
big asset here...
The casino suits are angry that these perps found a way to take even more money from an empty-pocketed tourist.
Definitely not good for Las Vegas if this story goes international...
@David1961--"Not-in-my-neighborhood" Las Vegans also think that kicking in a front door to gain access to your home and your valuables is "an isolated incident", too. But it happens numerous times every day--we just don't hear about it.
With cameras everywhere they only got that picture?
This is why you carry guns people!
as a tourist you have to be aware of the fact that there are persons out there that want to hurt you and steal what you have. you have to be aware of your suroundings and try to avoid getting drunk and walking around alone,this is stupid anywhere in the world.i agree that there has to be more to this. i would love to see the slappers banned from the stirp i hate having to try to walk passed them and having that crap pushed in my face. the race of the thieves has nothing to do with animal behavior they all need to be dealt with severly.
They need to keep people from loitering and begging on those bridges! I'm so offended by that. Especially the bridge from MGM to NYNY - there's always beggars on it.
This is unfortunately the Las Vegas we all live in today thanks to the garbage that flocked here from sewers like California and Mexico. We want our crime free city back, and expect Metro to do their job with our tax dollars protecting the tourists out on the strip.
Sure, there was no crime here in the 1960's. This is as much criminal on criminal crime (A trick roll) as anything Spilotoro ever pulled. Sorry, no one gets abducted off of a pedestrian bridge and dragged all over town and through a casino into a hotel; doesn't add up. Trick Roll.
GrandmaCrabby :
We just love ya though..!
Arguing with you JP is like arguing with a child. You want to blame all current crime on Obama go right ahead. Can I count all the criminals sentenced before 2008 on the Bush record? Right. The sad thing is people who have no ability to think critically are still allowed to vote.
The glare from that guy's head "blinded" the camera, I saw that done on "mission impossible"
pretty clever
I don't want to be judgemental but connect the dots: single man, drunk, 5:00 a.m., LV Strip. It is quite possible this was some sort of hooker/kidnapping/robbery scheme. Perhaps the guy made up the story in order to save face with his wife? Whatever the case, he's lucky to be unharmed and alive right now.
My main issue is the bridges in question that connect Bellagio, Caesars, Bill's, and Bally's on Flamingo. These bridges have been completely taken over by bums, pan handlers, water sellers, etc. How is this permitted? You cannot even walk across these bridges without being harassed or bothered. Not to mention the stench from some of these people. Why is the city not dealing with this? Do these people have some 1st amendment right to camp out on these bridges day and night and bother people? Here you have a walkway that connect two of the most upscale hotels in LV: Bellagio and Caesars -- and the walkway is filty and infested with street vagrants and other riff-raff. Come on now... Is this acceptable?
Do you people acutally belive this story?You mean to tell me this guy was taken at gun point while walking along the cesar's pallace bridge,escorted still at gun point to an awaiting car..This guy is lying.........
The story is plausable. He was out wandering while drunk.
Hey, I recognize them two.....Thats Earl Simmons and L'il Kim.
I am thinking the victim was attempting to score drugs from the stranger rather than a trick roll scenario, and maybe flashed a serious wadd of cash or disclosed he was wealthy which the suspects had other plans to rob him, ...based on police interviewing his "partner" which "he" stated that he thought the victim removed all his possessions from the room.
I can't picture a "wealthy 40 yr old businessman who frequently visits Las Vegas" to be so careless while drunk/impaired and walking alone on the Strip at 500am only to get abducted at gunpoint at the crosswalk bridge with people around....I believe the victim was kidnapped from another location though, and since he had a "male partner" that shared a room together -they obviously parted ways to go on their own destiny.
Any wealthy businesspeople that "frequent" Las Vegas a lot would surely have established prostitute connections within 7 digits away and do some business anytime they wanted if thats what they desire, rather than to troll the Strip corridor for it...now when it comes to scoring some drugs, a person will troll for drugs at any location.
Another scenario would be : If prostitution was involved, he was lured out of the room and invited for some company to head out at another location for whatever reason and then got tag teamed while kidnapped.
I am very glad to hear the victim escaped and lucky to be alive from the hell he endured.
It's a shame when people tend to swill so much alcohol and not take control of their lives is beyond me....if this victim had actually been that impaired according to the article.
I too, don't buy into 100 percent of the events that took place according to the article.
Straight out of Compton!
I read one of the posts refering to these people to get a job,, what in the hell for... Why get a job when you can kidnap and rob people... Wonder if they get overtime since they held him over 24 hours... Just think of the story he can tell his buddies back home...
All of this smelly disgusting garbage who are not qualified to be called human beings, are gang trash, common street thugs, rapists, thieves, and pimps, have all come here from the big stench sewers of California and Mexico. Get 'em outta here and see how things quiet down. Vegas never should have grown in population the way it did with all of the non skilled jobs which are now non existent. Give 'em a bus ticket to State Line and dump them off in the desert.
Trick Roll.
"The sad thing is people who have no ability to think critically are still allowed to vote."
I agree completely but even as you lack the ability to think critically I still support your right to vote vegasstudent.
Now since you know it all, where in my comments did I blame all of the current crime on Obama?
I agree with danutz, looks like the hooker slipped him a mickey. I don't feel sorry for this dork. Good story for the wife back home
If anyone believes this guys story, I have a bridge I would like to sell ya'!
JPM42 = Glenn Beck
I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to rob someone in Vegas where there are cameras everywhere... and then let him escape.
it appeared to be a prostitution thingy here. where is the third person?duh!!!!!!!!!!
briant - As a drone capable of thinking only how the left tells you to think, I would not expect you to understand or have the mental capacity for independent thought.
Massachusetts was only the beginning. The next three years are going to be most satisfying.
Crime on the strip is very rampant. Of course the local police cover most of it up. Can't scare away the tourists...
this really isn't any different than what liberals do to working people each day.
JPM42> I don't know what is more satisfyingly delightful- the irony of your statement or your lack of realization.
briant - As you continue to ignore the topic at hand, your attitude is typical of those on the left who would rather engage in vilifying those who do not share your view rather than further the debate.
All liberals are programmed exactly the same, it is quite comical to observe.
Wow. Maybe I should define irony for you :)
I just hope LarryVegas is ok after what those bad people put him through.
Yo Ren...[wassup]....tell em where you from.
What happens in Vegas....can sometimes be down right embarrassing and victimized. Ask OJ.
you guys are so mean.. no compassion for anyone. you are all so angry!
He may have been flashing a roll of cash at the tables inside the casino and been followed out by the thugs.
This guy didn't have a yellow Porsche at the Red Rock a couple months back, did he?
@briant
I think irony is a man like jP who blames all crime on the current administration saying "your attitude is typical of those on the left who would rather engage in vilifying those who do not share your view rather than further the debate."
hahahahahahaahahahahaha
Has all the makings of a Tijuana kidnapping! Heaven forbid this is the start of a trend.
This has no similarities of a TJ kidnapping, except that the 'victim' here was somehow involved in crime (prostitution, no doubt). The man was not taken from his home, nor was he ransomed.
If this were a Tijuana kidnapping, his kidneys would have been removed and already sold.
you are all so angry!
And YOU are so naieve.
Are the suspects light-skinned or dark-skinned? Do they speak with a Negro accent?
Wow, after re-reading and listening to the comments, I think it does appear to be fishy. It starts with reporting the incident late, being drunk, moving alone at 5am. Whether prostitution, random, or whatever, it is still disturbing, but I do feel somewhat better about my safety there by realizing I could either carry a concealed weapon (hard to bring on plane though), or simply use common sense and make sure I am not drunk or alone. Thanks everyone!
Exactly as I said earlier:
"This is most likely a cover story for drug deal or prostitution deal gone awry. We'll see if the follow up report looks anything like this."
http://www.lvrj.com/news/strip-grab-is--...
The Sun should do a follow up, or, at least, an update.