Laughlin casino facing fine for aggressive security guards incident from 2022
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Las Vegas (KSNV) — A local Nevada casino is facing a possible monetary fine following an incident from 2022 involving the property's security guards.
According to a complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Commission on February 12, 2024, the Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino in Laughlin may have to pay a fine after an investigation found that four of the security guards at the casino falsely accused an employee at the casino of smoking marijuana while working. The issue was reportedly brought up after the unidentified employees' supervisor had told one of the guards.
During the incident, which occurred on August 9, 2022, after one of the security guards accused the employee, the guard allegedly threw the employee on the ground and punched them five times while on the ground.
The security later informed the employee that they had been fired and that the employee had to go. While the employee was trying to leave the room, the security guard blocked the door preventing the employee from leaving, the report stated.
The employee was then placed in a holding cell while police arrived and while there, they hit their head on a metal cell wall, causing them to lay motionless and presumably unconscious on the cell floor for about 18 minutes. The employee was later revived by a different security guard.
When police arrived, officers determined that the employee had not committed any crime but was instead the possible victim of battery, coercion with force, and false imprisonment.
Video surveillance also backed this up after it showed the employee not using any force or physical violence with the security guard, according to the report.
In an interview with officers, one of the security guards admitted that there was not any reasonable suspicion to test the employee for drug use.
The Justice Court of Laughlin issued arrest warrants for all four security guards on March 27, 2023, with listed charges of coercion with physical force and false imprisonment.
The complaint also notes a separate incident that occurred on July 5, 2022, when one of the property's security guards mocked a casino visitor's accent.
The security guard later slightly pushed the visitor after they complained, which later led to the security guard pushing the visitor to the ground and handcuffing them. That visitor would later be transported to the hospital.
A settlement is said to be determined during the upcoming Nevada Gaming Commission meeting on Thursday.
