Hostage Released After Hours-Long Standoff at Caesars Palace Hotel; Suspect Arrested

On Tuesday, Police arrested a man after an hours-long standoff inside the Caesars Palace Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. A woman police said was being held hostage in the standoff was also released.

Officials have not confirmed if the man taken into custody was armed during the incident since there were no injuries reported. However, visitors in the swimming pool area below were shocked when furniture, couches, and other items fell from the 21st floor.

According to Officer Aden OcampoGomez, “The suspect has been taken into custody. The female is currently with officers,” adding that the woman did not appear to be injured.

At around 9:15 am, hotel security received a message that a man and woman were arguing before he forcibly dragged her into a room.

According to USA Today, officials tried to make contact, but the man refused to open the door and reportedly told police he was armed.

Las Vegas police Capt. Stephen Connell said that SWAT immediately secured the hallway outside the room, but it was still unclear if the man was armed at the time. However, he told reporters that the hostage woman had “been heard from” and was reportedly “still OK.”

#BREAKING 2:46 p.m.: SWAT made entry into the hotel room and has taken the subject into custody. The female who was also in the room is safe and with officers. There will be a large police presence with vehicles as this investigation continues and units disperse.

— LVMPD (@LVMPD) July 11, 2023

Associated Press writer John Marshall, who was vacationing with his family in a hotel on the fifth floor of the Palace Tower, said that broken glass and furniture fell from the building for approximately an hour.

“It looks like he’s pretty much emptied the room of furniture,” Marshall said.

There have been no recent reports of injuries to anyone in the pool area, said Officer OcampoGomez.

After the arrest, Dayna Calkins, spokesperson for Caesars Entertainment, referred to the standoff as a “security incident” that occurred inside a guest room and has now been resolved. In the meantime, it remains unclear if the two parties were in a relationship. But the investigation is ongoing.