Summary
- A valet was the first to be threatened.
- Police were able to apprehend the individual.
- The aggressor was found without a gun in his bag.
A strange incident took place at the Seminole Casino in Immokalee, Florida this week involving a man that was reportedly brandishing a firearm.
Police arrested Morris Burgess (pictured), age 43, at the Florida casino after he was seen being aggressive towards employees and threatening to shoot them with a gun.
Details of the Incident
Burgess first brought up the aspect of the gun at the valet stand of the casino. He was at the Casino Car Valet Window when a police officer began to hear a lot of noise coming from that area. He arrived on the scene to see Burgess yelling at the employee and holding a black backpack.
The assailant was saying ‘I’m going to shoot you’ and had a hand in his bag like he was holding on to a gun. The cop tried to help and the employee ran away from the scene. Burgess began walking away and kept his hand in the bag the entire time.
Once Burgess was inside the casino, he remained angry and took his frustration out on another individual. He continued to say he had a gun and it appeared to be in his backpack. Officers were able to apprehend Burgess and once he was in handcuffs, his bag was searched. Police did not find a gun in his backpack, so the threats seem to have been empty ones.
Casino Security in the US
Burgess was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of resisting arrest. Even though he did not have a gun, the matter was taken seriously. Across the United States, casinos have security measures in place to ensure that patrons are safe as they enjoy gaming and dining options.
Casinos have security personnel that walk the property as well as cameras in place to catch any type of odd behavior. Many casinos are now banning guns from the premises to provide an even safer space. With mass shootings on the rise, this seems to be the best course of action.
Over 100 mass shootings have taken place in the United States and casinos have been targeted in the past. Removing the possibility for an individual to bring a gun inside, such as with metal detectors, helps to minimize this type of threat.
We expect more casinos to ban guns in the future or take other security measures into consideration to create a safe and secure environment for everyone visiting.
About the Author
