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February 12, 2012

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Man faces felony charges in false Arizona Charlie’s bomb threat

By Sun Staff (contact)

Published Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010 | 2:34 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010 | 3:44 p.m.

Click to enlarge photo

Richard Sellers

A man who falsely claimed to be wearing an explosive device Saturday at Arizona Charlie's Boulder Hotel and Casino in the eastern Las Vegas Valley has been charged with three felonies.

Richard Wayne Sellars, 61, was charged with extortion, burglary and making terrorist threats, Metro Police said. He was being held at the Clark County Detention Center on $18,000 bail pending a Wednesday court appearance.

The incident began about 9:30 a.m. when Sellars walked into the front door of the casino at 4575 Boulder Highway, went to the security desk and lifted his shirt, showing a security guard what he said was an explosive device, police said.

The casino, the hotel and the RV park were evacuated during the incident and Boulder Highway was closed in both directions in front of the casino. Security officers called Metro and escorted Sellars out the north entrance of the casino, police said.

According to the arrest report, Sellars told a security guard that someone had put the explosive device on him and that it would blow up in five minutes if he didn't get $1,000.

When Metro officers arrived, they ordered Sellars to the ground, but the device began beeping as they tried to take him into custody, the arrest report stated. Sellars then told officers to shoot him, officials said.

Sellars admitted the device was actually a medical defibrillator life vest when a detective started questioning him remotely, the arrest report stated.

Officials confirmed the device was a Life Vest Wearable Defibrillator model 4000 and arrested Sellars shortly after noon, according to the arrest report. Sellars told police no one else was involved in the hoax, officials said.

Police said Saturday they believe a possible motive was that Sellars was trying to commit "suicide by cop," because he had told an officer that he wanted the SWAT team to shoot him.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

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  1. By sevenhills
    Sept. 7, 2010
    3:37 p.m.
    Flag

    lol. Obviously didn't win at the slots.

  2. By GooGooDolls
    Sept. 7, 2010
    5:54 p.m.
    Flag

    This is very sad. Think that the end of your life is putting together a plan like this. I hope he gets any necessary help he may need. God bless him.

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