Indiana Casino Player Robbed of $40K, Two Valuable Rings, Suspect Remains in Jail

Posted on: September 23, 2022, 04:59h. 

Last updated on: September 27, 2022, 05:49h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A bandit who allegedly robbed and assaulted a woman after she arrived home from an Indiana casino remained in jail on Friday. News of his arrest was reported this week.

Solomon Evans Jr., 54, of Sauk Village, Ill., and a second unnamed man followed the victim from a Gary, Ind. gaming venue to her South Bend residence on Sept. 7, according to WBND, a local TV station.

She left the car to go into her house when Evans and the second man approached the victim. One of the suspects brandished a firearm, South Bend police said.

The duo then stole two rings from her, police added. The rings were valued at $91,000 and $88,000. The bandits also swiped about $40,000 in cash. The robbers then fled the scene in a truck.

The incident began when the duo started to watch her win the money on the casino floor before tailing her home, reports said.

One Suspect Behind Bars

Evans was later identified by police. He was arrested on a warrant and booked in the St. Joseph County Jail on Sept. 13. His bail was set at $100,000.

He is charged with armed robbery and robbery resulting in bodily injury, according to online jail records. The second suspect appears to still be at large.

When speaking with police, Evans confirmed he was at the casino. But he claimed he drove to South Bend to pick up a dog. The dog’s owner was not home, so Evans left the city, he told authorities.

News reports did not identify the name of the casino.

Online Sports Apps

Hard Rock Northern Indiana launched online sports betting apps earlier this month. The casino, owned by Hard Rock International, a Florida-based gaming company, engages players with an approach that integrates online play and in-person experiences.

Beyond Indiana, a Hard Rock Sportsbook app is available in Tennessee, Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey, and Virginia. The Seminole Tribe of Florida owns Hard Rock.