CASINO CRIME ROUND UP: Atlantic City Boardwalk Fire, Massachusetts Casino Evacuated, New Details on Seminole Hard Rock Assault

Posted on: February 4, 2023, 05:17h. 

Last updated on: February 6, 2023, 11:42h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Atlantic City firefighters braved frigid temperatures Friday night as they battled a blaze on the boardwalk across from the Ocean Casino Resort. Temperatures reached 8 degrees with wind chill. A fire across from Atlantic City's Ocean Casino Resort

A fire across from Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort, pictured above. A firefighter was injured when battling the blaze. (Image: WPG)The fire apparently began before 6 p.m. when debris under the boardwalk became inflamed, WPG, a local radio station, reported.

Initial reports state that the fire may have been caused by homeless people sleeping under the boardwalk who built a fire to stay warm. The flames may have unintentionally spread to the boardwalk.

Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control by about 6:30 p.m. It took another hour before all the hotspots were extinguished, Patch reported.

An Atlantic City firefighter was injured after apparently falling through the boardwalk. according to the Patch news network. The firefighter suffered minor injuries but reportedly went to a local hospital for treatment.

Plainridge Park Casino Evacuated

Massachusetts’ Plainridge Park Casino was evacuated at about 2 p.m. Saturday after a gas leak. The leak apparently caused a sprinkler pipe to burst, state police said.

Parking lots were also evacuated as a result of the leak.  The number of cars leaving the complex led to delays on Route 1 and local roads. Plainridge Park is expected to reopen soon, WFXT, a Boston TV station, reported.

Sex Assault at Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Garage

New details were released this week on last month’s armed robbery and sexual assault of a person at Tampa, Fla.’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s parking garage.

Police claim Dandre McNeil, 25, of Riverview, Fla., approached a person in the garage. He displayed a silver revolver and ordered the victim to hand over cash, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The victim then attempted to flee the scene, but McNeil tackled and sexually assaulted the victim, according to court documents.

When McNeil pulled up his pants, the victim knocked him to the pavement. The victim then ran toward the Seminole Police Department.

Police arrested McNeil on January 19. He remains in custody. No bail was set. He was also charged with several other unspecific crimes.

Indiana Casino Winner Shot During Robbery

Two people were arrested on Tuesday in connection with a prior shooting and robbery of a casino winner at an Evansville, Ind. motel. David Flax, 30 and Bobbie Collins, 31, face several charges from the November 20 incident, WEVV, a local TV station, reported.

The victim, who was staying at Indiana’s Esquire Inn, invited Collins to his room. He told her he had just won money at a casino. Collins came to the motel, but Flax was with her. He yelled out, “Give me all your money, or I will kill you,” WFIE, another local station, said.

The victim shoved Flax and tried to flee, but Flax shot him in the arm, police said.

The duo was arrested on January 30 for robbery and battery. Both were released from custody.