Suspect in armed robbery at Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg identified
The sheriff's office has identified a suspect after officers responded to an armed robbery at the Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Lawrenceburg Saturday.
Daniel Birdseye, 39, was arrested Saturday night after leading police on a manhunt after police say he tried to rob Hollywood Casino with a firearm.
Birdseye is now charged with robbery while armed with a deadly weapon and battery against a public safety official who was on the job at the time.
Police say they arrived at the casino around 8 p.m.
Investigators are not releasing any details about what happened inside the casino but say Birdseye took off running and was later found and arrested at a nearby nature preserve.
There was a huge police presence all around the casino, with officers also posted at spots along local roads and interstates. K-9 units were out in the woods and police also enlisted the help of a drone and a helicopter to help catch the suspect.
Police say they found Birdseye in a wooded area where he was taken into custody just before 10 p.m.
WLWT spoke to a woman who was inside the casino, feet away from Birdseye, when the chaos began.
"The security guard came over and was like, look behind you. And we looked and we were right by the stage and where the cages are, where they do the transitioning of the money. We could see a commotion. It was just straight fear." witness Rhonda Sanderson said.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Indiana Gaming Commission is the lead on this case, in a statement from Hollywood Casino, they tell us they are thankful that law enforcement was able to protect visitors and staff members and that they remain open and operating.