The man who allegedly held up Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Lawrenceburg, Ind. Saturday has been named by authorities.
Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Lawrenceburg, Ind., pictured above. A robbery suspect was named. (Image: TripAdvisor)
He is Daniel Birdseye, 39. Birdseye was charged with robbery while armed with a deadly weapon and battery against a public safety official, according to Ohio TV station WLWT.
Eyewitnesses reported the gun-wielding suspect demanded cash from employees at the casino cage at about 7:40 p.m.
It is unclear how much, if any, money was stolen. There were unconfirmed reports the robber tried to grab a hostage before running down a hallway. He escaped through an exit. He eventually was caught by local police.
Frightened visitors ran toward exits. Or they tried to hide by laying on the casino floor or ducking under tables, one witness, Chris Simon, told Ohio TV station WCPO.
At about 10 p.m., Birdseye was apprehended in a wooded area, WLWT reported.
Drone, Dogs Helpful in Tracking
Authorities used specially trained dogs, a drone, and a helicopter to search for the robber.
The suspect fled into the Oxbow area just east of the casino here, it’s kind of the river bottoms, kind of rough terrain, so very helpful having the drone out there and the canine to track the subject,” Dearborn County Sheriff Shane McHenry told Ohio TV station WXIX.
No shots were fired, but there was, at one point, an alert announced on a public address system at the casino for an active shooter, according to initial reports.
Birdseye was booked at the Dearborn County Jail. His case was turned over to local prosecutors. No other suspects took part in the holdup, according to initial reports.
Injuries Reported
During the course of the incident, at least one person was injured.
He was described as an elderly man who suffered cuts after he fell onto the casino floor, WCPO reported.
Details on the incident have yet to be released by law enforcement and casino officials.
While we cannot comment on the specifics of yesterday’s events, we are incredibly thankful for the decisive response by numerous team members, law enforcement, and Indiana Gaming Commission personnel to protect our patrons and staff,” Hollywood Casino General Manager Mike Galle said in a statement released on Sunday.
The Indiana Gaming Commission is leading the investigation. Officers from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio responded to the robbery.
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg is now open during normal hours.
The gaming property is located on the Ohio River, which separates Indiana and Kentucky.
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