Caesars Palace hostage suspect Matthew Mannix threatened landlord days before Las Vegas standoff - latest
Las Vegas police arrested assailant and rescued female hostage held in Caesars Palace hotel room
The suspect in a dramatic hostage situation at the Caesars Palace hotel in Las Vegas threatened his landlord in Colorado before going on a drug binge that unfolded in Tuesday’s incident, according to police records.
Matthew Mannix, 35, had an outstanding warrant in his home state of Colorado before he allegedly took a woman hostage at the famous resort. The warrant stemmed from Mr Mannix allegedly threatening his landlord “not to mess with him” because he was “a killer” and a “hunter,” according to Jefferson County court records obtained by FOX 31.
The landlord also told law enforcement that Mr Mannix was in possession of a firearm, which led to four weapons being seized from his home. Due to his previous criminal history, which includes four protection orders against him, he is barred from owning any type of firearm.
Mr Mannix was contacted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office but failed to meet with deputies, prompting law enforcement to issue a fugitive warrant.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s affidavit for his arrest, both Mr Mannix and the hostage victim, who was not named but was described as having been in an on-and-off relationship with her alleged captor, were suspected of having experienced “drug-induced schizophrenia”.
A SWAT standoff was launched after Mr Mannix allegedly forced the woman into his room before threatening to “shoot someone” if they entered. Mr Mannix was taken into custody about five hours later.
He appeared in court on Wednesday where a judge set his bail at $750,000.
VIDEO: Barricaded man throws furniture out of window at Caesars Palace
In addition to claiming he was armed, a man who barricaded himself in a Caesars Palace hotel room on Tuesday also threw numerous pieces of furniture out of a shattered window, raining debris on lower levers of the famed casino.
Watch what happened below.
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Here’s how we covered the 2017 shooting at The Independent.
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ICYMI: Las Vegas SWAT team captures man who held hostage in Caesars Palace hotel room after tense standoff
Las Vegas police have arrested a man who was barricaded inside a Caesars Palace hotel room with a female hostage, ending a standoff that spanned most of the day.
“SWAT made entry into the hotel room and has taken the subject into custody,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said on Tuesday in a statement on Twitter. “The female who was also in the room is safe and with officers.”
Get all the details in our full story.
Las Vegas SWAT team captures man who held hostage in Caesars Palace hotel room
Who is the alleged hostage-taker?
Las Vegas police have revealed little information about the man accused of taking a woman hostage at Caesars Palace on Tuesday.
The man, who claimed he was armed, allegedly pulled a woman into a room and barricaded a door before breaking the window and throwing items out.
It was not immediately clear if the man was a guest at the hotel, or if he knew the woman prior to the incident.
An investigation is ongoing.
Pool area was evacuated as suspect threw furniture out of the window
The suspect, who claimed he was armed, spent the morning then throwing large objects out of the window of his hotel room, sending guests on the pool deck running for cover.
Bystander video showed broken glass and debris littering various decks at the Caesars.
The relationship between the suspect and the victim is unclear, but the incident was described as a domestic disturbance.
The suspect’s identity has not been released as of Wednesday morning.
Las Vegas SWAT team captures man who held hostage in Caesars Palace hotel room after tense standoff
Las Vegas police arrested the man who was barricaded inside a Caesars Palace hotel room with a female hostage on Tuesday, ending am hours-long standoff that spanned most of the day.
“SWAT made entry into the hotel room and has taken the subject into custody,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said on Tuesday in a statement on Twitter. “The female who was also in the room is safe and with officers.”
WATCH: Furniture thrown out of Ceasars palace window as police respond to hostage situation
Suspect identified
According to arrest records, the suspect in Tuesday’s standoff was identified as Matthew Mannix.
An incident report obtained by The Independent reveals that Mr Mannix allegedly claimed he “had a magazine full of rounds” and “would pull the trigger” when law enforcement asked him to exit the room.
Mr Mannix is also a wanted fugitive in another state.
Suspect Matthew Mannix had outstanding arrest warrant
There was a full-extradition fugitive warrant out for Matthew Mannix’s arrest at the time of Tuesday’s standoff, an incident report revealed.
The reason for the warrant issued in Colorado was redacted in the report, which states that there are also four active protection orders against him.
The report states that Mr Mannix was listed as the occupant of the hotel room in Caesars Palace records.
The name of the woman Mr Mannix stands accused of holding hostage in his room was also redacted in the report. However, it states that she described herself as having been in an “on and off” relationship with the suspect.
‘Drug-induced schizophrenia’ revealed in arrest report
The arrest report indicates that both Matthew Mannix and his unnamed victim appeared to be experiencing “drug-induced schizophrenia” when police finally gained access to them after a more than five-hour standoff.
It also shows that more than $50,000-worth of damage was done to the hotel room during that period as items were tossed from a broken window.
The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has more:
