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.
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
Suspect seen throwing large pieces of furniture out of 21st-floor window of Caesars Palace hotel room
IN PICTURES: Alleged hostage-taker appears in court on Wednesday
Hostage victim has ‘cuts and bruises on her legs’
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.
Furniture thrown out of Ceasars palace window as police respond to hostage situation
Who is the alleged hostage-taker Matthew Mannix?
The suspect in a hostage standoff at Caesars Palace has been identified as 35-year-old fugitive Matthew Mannix, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by The Independent revealed that Mr Mannix was experiencing “drug-induced” schizophrenia when he allegedly held a 26-year-old woman hostage inside a room on the 21st floor of the resort on Tuesday.
Las Vegas police also said that Mr Mannix is wanted in Colorado and has four protection orders against him.
Guests evacuated pool area 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.
Man holds woman hostage at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas
Suspect threatened to ‘pull the trigger,’ report says
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.”
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.
Matthew Mannix’s bond set at $750,000
Las Vegas police also said that Mr Mannix is wanted in Colorado and has four protection orders against him.
He appeared in court on Wednesday and his bail was set at $750,000.
Mr Mannix is being held at the Clark County Detention Center.