Pennsylvania Police Charge Two in Presque Isle Downs Casino Bomb Threat
Pennsylvania State Police arrested two people yesterday for their alleged involvement in making a bomb threat to the Presque Isle Downs & Casino inwards Erie.
Norman Antuzzi, 48, of Erie, and Parlee Jo Ferko, 38, of Edinboro, were both supercharged in recounting to the bomb threat, which turned out to follow a hoax. Over the weekend, Presque Isle evacuated its cassino composite on Saturday after a bomb threat was phoned in.
Law enforcement alleges inwards royal court documents that Ferko is a barman at the casino, and was in contact with Antuzzi, a former Presque Isle employee, shortly before the bomb threat was made. According to information in the affidavit, Ferko was complaining well-nigh do work to Antuzzi when he asked if she wanted him to call off inwards a threat to the casino.
“She replied, ‘Yes,'” the complaint alleges.
Presque Isle Downs received a bomb threat just before 10pm in conclusion night. For the refuge of our guests and squad members, we evacuated the edifice patch PSP investigated. The bomb squad was called inwards which utilised trinity K-9s and deemed the threat unfounded.
1/3
— Presque Isle Downs (@PID_Casino) June 27, 2021
Antuzzi was charged with ane felony numerate of making a terroristic threat that caused an evacuation of a building. He remains inward Erie County Prison on a $50,000 bond.
Ferko was supercharged with the same felony count, plus a third-degree infringement count of topsy-turvy conduct. Since she isn’t alleged to feature really made the threat and is not deemed a public threat, Ferko was released following her arraignment.
Defendant Rejects Allegation
An attorney representing Ferko said police force feature the Presque Isle Downs Casino bomb play a joke on all wrong. Erie lawyer Charbel Latouf told the Erie Times-News that the complaint left wing come out critical detail.
My client’s response to him was ‘LOL,’ and non simply ‘yes,'” Latouf said. “She believed it to live made in jest and not at all serious.
“We will vigorously guard this pillow slip on her behalf, as she did not machinate with him at all,” Latouf added.
State law said the bomb threat was received at Presque Isle at 9:40 pm local clip on Saturday night.
“For the refuge of all employees, patrons, and visitors, the conclusion was made to to the full void the building based on the threat,” the incident news report details. “The building was and so searched by enjoyment of volatile spying canines. The results of the searches were negative, and the cassino was reopened.”
The complaint contends that the evacuation and hanging of trading operations cost the gambling casino close to $100,000. The gambling casino was closed in(p) from Sat dark through almost 7 am on Sunday.
The casino is owned past Duke of Marlborough Downs, which acquired the property in too soon 2019 for $178.9 1000000 from Eldorado Resorts.
Bomb Threats Have John R. Major Penalties
In Pennsylvania, making a bomb threat or other terroristic warnings is typically a infraction of the first of all degree, according to attorneys at Worgul, Sarna & Ness, a criminal defense house in Pittsburgh. However, the law office says if the threat causes people to halt their normal activities in a building, property of assembly, or public transportation facility, the bearing is upgraded to a felony.
Those found shamed of a felony terroristic threat inward Pennsylvania face upward to vii years inwards prison, plus a amercement of upward to $15,000.
The Erie gambling casino bomb hoax follows a similar phony incident lastly month at the Seminole Hard John Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. Police at that place traced the call off to a 54-year-old FL adult female who was simply mad after losing $380 play at the casino.
In April, a dissatisfied cassino security department safety device at the Horseshoe Bossier City Hotel & Casino inwards Louisiana was supercharged with making a bomb threat to the resort. He, too, admitted he had no more real plan to sway come out placing an volatile at the property.