Pastor Arrested at Strat Hotel in Las Vegas over Drugs, Guns

An evangelical pastor who allegedly had drugs and guns in his hotel room at a popular Las Vegas hotel and casino resort was recently arrested and charged. The case involves a 61-year-old pastor from North Carolina identified with the initials D.M., who visited the Strat Hotel Casino & Tower late last month.

As announced by KLAS, the pastor is facing several charges after his August 20 arrest. At the time, the 61-year-old filed a report, claiming that property belonging to him was missing. However, based on documents related to the matter, when he was asked if he had any weapons in his hotel room, the pastor allegedly admitted to having a gun in his “guitar case.” This resulted in a response from the Las Vegas counter-terrorism and drug detectives.

Guns of any kind, regardless if blunt weapons or firearms are not permitted in hotels and casinos and this is a standard policy. The Start makes no exception as the venue prohibits any form of weapon, including knives, axes, pepper sprays, firearms, airsoft weapons, bb guns or other types of weapons or toys shaped as weapons that may cause bodily harm.

Responding to the Strat, law enforcement reportedly uncovered an AR-15 rifle equipped with a scope in the hotel room of the 61-year-old pastor. Besides the gun, police also found an unspecified amount of fentanyl, a drug that is usually used to treat patients who experience severe pain. Although recognized as a controlled substance, fentanyl has a high risk of addiction and dependence, it is incredibly potent and has resulted in thousands of deaths over the last few years.

The 61-Year-Old Man Was Arrested and Charged

After his arrest, the pastor faced charges related to the possession of guns and drugs. Although he was set to appear in court the next day, he didn’t due to medical reasons. The 61-year-old is scheduled to appear in court on December 19.

Speaking to detectives, the pastor reportedly admitted to purchasing the fentanyl pills from North Carolina and then arriving in Las Vegas via his private jet. Moreover, the man allegedly said, “he was a user of fentanyl and intended to distribute the fentanyl to his daughter when he locates her.”

The 61-year-old suspected that his daughter lived in the tunnels underneath Sin City. The flood tunnels are suspected of being home to an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people, who live in the darkness below the luxury hotels and casinos in Las Vegas.

Earlier this year, Clark County officials greenlighted a $1 million grant for the Las Vegas Shooting Memorial, the Forever One Memorial. The memorial honors the victims of the October 1, 2017, shooting that has taken the lives of 60 people.

Ever since the deadly shooting, law enforcement has been extra cautious especially when it comes to Las Vegas Strip guests who are suspected of carrying AR-style weapons. In the 2017 shooting, bullets rained down on the Route 91 Harvest Festival by shooter Stephen Paddock who opened fire into the crowd from his room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.