Man Arrested for Bomb Threat at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Casino in Nevada

A man was arrested on Monday after police from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a bomb threat signal at the Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Casino in Nevada.

The man supposedly tipped off the casino that he had planted a bomb on-site, but was quickly identified by investigators as a patron who had recently lost $20,000 gambling at the venue.

Huge Loss at Casino Leads to Rash Decisions for Patron

Police were able to track the perpetrator down and identify him by his initials, one S.M., from South Lake Tahoe. His arrest was effected in the early hours of January 6, and only hours after the signal was received.

He now faces bomb threat and terrorist threats charges and has been booked at the El Dorado County Jail. However, the area is particularly sensitive to such threats, and judges usually do not show leniency.

This goes back to the 1980s when the Harvey’s Resort Hotel was bombed, leading to a serious posture change from law enforcement in Nevada when responding to signals.

Fake signals are usually prosecuted to the full extent of the law, notwithstanding a person’s personal history, rap sheet, or personal circumstances.

Sheriff Dan Coverley offered a statement, praising the deputies who responded early to the scene and were able to track down the culprit.

“I want to thank Harrah’s Casino for their quick reporting of this incident and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department for their assistance in the arrest of Maybee,” the sheriff said, referring to the historic accident as well.

There were no explosive devices found on the property. Disgruntled patrons have been known to resort to such empty threats all over the world – not just in the United States.

A man in Singapore was arrested in September after he lost $1,600 on a cruise ship’s casino, sending bomb threats and eventually getting caught by police.

In April, another person was arrested for issuing threats that he would bomb the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival after the Agua Caliente Casino tipped off police.