LA Casino Evacuated After Bomb Threat Turns Out False

A bomb threat forced the evacuation of a Los Angeles-area casino and nearby buildings last Thursday afternoon, though it later turned out to be a hoax.

Prank Caller Asked for $50,000

At around 4 pm, the Park West Bicycle Casino and Hotel in Bell Gardens cleared hundreds of people after a caller demanded $50,000, threatening to open fire on the gaming floor and claiming an associate could plant a bomb if needed. 

Police quickly arrived at the scene, bringing along tactical units which immediately initiated a thorough search that lasted about five hours before officially confirming the threat was not real. 

The tactical teams used special armored BearCat vehicles for blocking the entrances to the venue while the officers performed floor-by-floor sweeps of the giant gambling complex.

Bell Gardens Police Chief Paul Camacho stressed the importance of taking all threats seriously. “We still have to go through our due diligence, which is public safety, making sure that there is nothing in there,” he said.

Patrons Were Allowed to Cash Out Winnings

People inside the casino described the situation as both tense and confusing, with some patrons saying they were not told the actual reason for the evacuation, which caused more panic. 

To make matters worse, the casino allowed gamblers to visit the cashier before leaving, which created the illusion that the situation was less urgent than it could have been.

The hotel and casino resumed regular operations the following day after the property was officially labeled as safe by the authorities, and the nearby roads and the 710 Freeway off-ramps were reopened. 

The complex operation brought together experts at the California Highway Patrol, Huntington Park, Culver City, and South Gate.

This incident comes amid a series of similar prank calls that have been targeting important locations around the Los Angeles area, including Van Nuys Airport and LAX.

Last week, we reported on a similar fake bomb threat at Grand Island Casino Resort that also triggered a complete security sweep on the ground.

Making hoax “swatting” calls that involve bomb threats is deemed a federal crime that can carry a severe penalty, which means that, once a suspect is clearly identified, the case may move over to federal investigators.