Casino Crime Round Up: Attempted Robbery at Harrah’s AC, Washington Casino Visitor Possibly Linked to 50 Holdups

Posted on: March 9, 2023, 08:24h. 

Last updated on: March 9, 2023, 08:24h.

A 35-year-old New Jersey woman was arrested last week after allegedly brandishing a taser and knife during an attempted robbery at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City.

Sarah Watson, 35, of Somers Point, allegedly placed the knife up to a victim’s throat and demanded $700 last Friday, according to BreakingAC, a regional news site.

She appeared in Superior Court and remains incarcerated at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

The incident began when Watson got into an argument with others at the casino. Watson’s attorney, Raquel DeStefano, said during a court appearance that Watson had told others to call the police due to the dispute over money, and never threatened the victim with the weapons.

Watson reportedly was already charged with unrelated hindering and drug counts. Watson is also the subject of a prostitution warrant and previously was incarcerated for a drug conviction, according to Wild.

Snoqualmie Casino Visitor Is Suspect in 50 Washington State Robberies

A man allegedly robbed a Washington State gas station a half hour after he visited the nearby Snoqualmie Casino. He was arrested recently and is a suspect in numerous other holdups.

Initially, on January 23, Allen Mekto, 22, was prevented from entering the casino because he didn’t have proper ID. A short time later, Mekto drove to the Chevron station, where he allegedly fired a shot into the ceiling and demanded cash from an employee.

Mekto got the money and fled in a car which crashed that same day in Tukwila, Wash.

When checking casino surveillance cameras, it was discovered Mekto was at the casino on at least five other occasions.

Authorities saw that on January 20 Mekto wore clothes at the casino that matched the clothes worn by a suspect in an Issaquah, Wash. cigar store robbery that same day. The clothes also matched what a suspect wore while robbing a dry-cleaning business in Bellevue, Wash. also that day.

King County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ian Michels-Slettvet said Mekto may be a suspect in 50 other robberies in western Washington.

Mekto was arrested at a Kent motel on February 28. He was charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, Washington State TV station KOMO reported.

No word yet on other charges. He was booked at King County jail. His bail was set at $280,000.

Florida Casino Meetup Leads to Burglary

The Broward Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday that two women allegedly stole several items from a man at his Florida residence after the trio met at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

The man and the would-be suspects met and hung out at the gaming property on December 18, 2022. He then invited the ladies back to his Pompano Beach home, according to Florida TV station WPEC.

The following morning, the women were gone. So too were the man’s firearm, sneakers, and watches.

Authorities didn’t have a value on the missing items.

Source: casino.org