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
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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.
Matthew Mannix expected to appear in court this afternoon
Matthew Mannix’s initial court appearance was scheduled for 1.30pm local time on Wednesday.
He is facing a slew of charges including first-degree kidnapping, destroying real or personal property, disregard for safety, coercion with force and resisting an officer.
Hostage claimed Matthew Mannix had knife
The arrest report revealed the hostage situation began when Caesars Palace security officers were called to Matthew Mannix’s room on the 21st floor of the resort.
Mr Mannix allegedly told the officers: “If they enter the room, he will shoot someone.”
When police arrived, he allegedly warned: “If you don’t leave it will end badly.”
Police also allegedly heard the woman yell through the door: “He has a knife,” prompting the call for a SWAT team response.
Mr Mannix also allegedly stated that he had a “magazine full of rounds” inside the room and that he would “cut the woman’s tongue out of her mouth” if she spoke.
When SWAT officers finally breached the room and arrested Mr Mannix, the woman told investigators that she didn’t leave because he had a knife and she was worried he would throw her out of the shattered window.
Suspect threatened to “cut [victim’s] tongue out of her mouth,’ according to police report
The victim told law enforcement that she was afraid to leave the room because Mr Mannix had a knife and at some point, she thought he would throw her out of the broken window.
According to the incident report, Mr Mannix and the victim previously knew each other and had been experiencing a “transient lifestyle” on the Las Vegas strip and binging on narcotics for several days.
As crisis negotiators spoke with Mr Mannix, he allegedly spoke over the woman and threatened to “cut her tongue out of her mouth” so she wouldn’t talk to law enforcement.
The victim also had cuts and bruises on her legs, some of which could have possibly been caused by a beating, police said.
Hostage situation lasted five hours
Employees at Caesars Palace first tried to check on the guests after receiving several complaints of noise coming out of room 2128, which they believed to be a domestic dispute.
When security approached the room, they reportedly found a man believed to be Mr Mannix barricaded inside and threatening to “shoot someone” if police tried to breach the room. The threats continued and at some point, a female also yelled that the man “had a knife.”
Mr Mannix was finally taken into custody at 2.40pm PDT. He reportedly told investigators during questioning that the victim was her “girlfriend and he loved her” and that “he would pay for everything that he damaged.”
“[Mr Mannix] was so high that he was paranoid and had a schizophrenic episode where he was yelling random comments and numbers and saying that he would pay for everything because he has a lot of money,” the affidavit read.
Cost of property damage estimated to be more than $50,000, police said
Suspect Matthew Mannix is also accused of 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 as guests ran for safety.
An investigator noted that the pool deck was left littered with furniture and glass and the property damage inside the room was “some of the most severe I have seen in my 18 years as a detective.” The damage caused is estimated to be upwards of $50,000.
Suspect threatened to ‘shoot someone’ if police tried to breach the room.
When security approached the room, they reportedly found a man believed to be Mr Mannix barricaded inside and threatening to “shoot someone” if police tried to breach the room. The threats continued and at some point, a female also yelled that the man “had a knife.”
Las Vegas Police, a SWAT team and medical responders arrived at the scene to handle the hostage situation. Mr Mannix reportedly refused to let the 26-year-old woman out of the room and continued to open and close the door while allegedly threatening to “pull the trigger.”
The woman eventually attempted to reach the door, but Mr Mannix then allegedly dragged her to the bed “as he body slammed her ... and began to have intercourse with her.”
Mr Mannix is wanted in Colorado, according to Las Vegas police
Las Vegas police also said that Mr Mannix is wanted in Colorado and has four protection orders against him.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday evening.
WATCH: Furniture thrown out of Ceasars palace window as police respond to hostage situation
Caesars Palace hostage-taker named as fugitive Matthew Mannix
A probable cause affidavit obtained by The Independent revealed that Mr Mannix was allegedly experiencing “drug-induced schizophrenia.”
Read more:
Caesars Palace hostage-taker named as fugitive Matthew Mannix
A probable cause affidavit obtained by The Independent revealed that Mr Mannix was allegedly experiencing ‘drug-induced schizophrenia’
Bystander describes terror at Caesars Palace as assailant threw furniture out of window
North Carolina real estate broker Alyssa Hellman told The Independent she was at the Caesars Palace pool with her wife when she heard a loud bang at about 1.30pm.
She said she looked up to see that a window had been broken on about the 10th floor, and a man inside started throwing furniture out onto the concourse.
“We heard a bang and then one of the windows was broken open, and the guy was throwing things out. Lamps, a TV and a minibar. He’s drawn the curtains now,” Ms Hellman said.
Ms Hellman said guests were evacuated from the pool area, but staff did not explain what was going on.
The couple had retreated to a safe distance and said everyone around them seemed “pretty calm and content”.
“We’re tucked back hidden away, closer to the Bellagio,” she said.