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A Ford pickup is shown after crashing through the entrance of the Stratosphere on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014.
Published Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 | 10:26 a.m.
Updated Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 | 2:02 p.m.
Ryan Brown
A man who crashed a pickup truck through the front doors of the Stratosphere on Wednesday night said he planned to jump from the 1,149-foot tower, Metro Police said.
Ryan Brown, 40, was arrested on counts of possession of cocaine, driving under the influence of drugs and reckless driving, Metro officials said today.
Brown arrived at the casino’s valet area about 8 p.m. in a Ford F-150 pickup and drove onto the curb before arguing with a pedestrian, a police report said.
He accelerated and crashed into the casino before the truck got caught between a pair of metal stair rails, according to the police report.
Brown got out of the truck and fought with guests and security, police said. He was taken into custody by casino security.
Police said Brown had urinated on himself, appeared extremely excited and admitted to using cocaine and speed over the last week.
He said he had lost his job as an electrician because of a domestic dispute with his wife, police said. He said he wanted to jump off the Stratosphere tower and hoped the incident would make the news, according to the police report.
The Stratosphere is known for its 1,149-foot observation tower resembling the iconic Space Needle in Seattle.
Brown was taken to the Clark County Detention Center, where he became combative with corrections officers and was restrained with a mask to keep him from spitting at people, police said.
Officers found 1.3 grams of crack cocaine and a glass smoking pipe with residue in the truck, police said.
The casino has provided video evidence of the incident.
It is virtually impossible to be anywhere in Las Vegas and miss the Stratosphere. It towers 1,149 feet above Las Vegas and is the tallest observation tower in the United States. The casino itself is 55,784 square feet and contains 950 slot machines, 120 game tables and 2,427 hotel rooms.
Of the hotel's 2,427 rooms, 909 were recently remodeled into Stratosphere Select rooms.
The Stratosphere is mostly known for its rides at the top of the tower. The Big Shot, located at the 113th floor, torpedoes riders up 160 feet using compressed air. X-Scream is a teeter-totter perched at the top of the observation deck ��� if that wasn't scary enough, the coaster arm flings the riders out 27 feet over the edge of the tower. Guests looking for something more sedate can just hang around the 107th floor and simply look at the scenery.
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