A 52-year-old belligerent gambler at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Illinois got himself arrested over the weekend. Police claim he was drunk, shoved a security guard, and uttered obscenities to the security staff.
Cory Herlihy of Citrus Heights, California was handcuffed and placed in a holding space at the casino. A short time later, he was turned over to Des Plaines police.
Officers eventually charged him with battery, according to Journal & Topics Media Group, located in Illinois.
The incident started on Saturday morning. Herlihy was at a poker table. He had won an undisclosed amount of money. But he was allegedly intoxicated.
Casino security staff determined that Herlihy needed to leave the gaming property. They asked him to exit.
He said he would, but first he wanted to cash in his chips at the casino. Security guards gave him the go-ahead.
Herlihy initially began walking to cashier’s area. Then, he decided he did not want to leave. That led him to swear at casino security guards, police said.
Guards repeated to Herlihy he needed to leave, now. But he decided to walk back to the gaming floor.
Then, Herlihy, shoved one guard in the chest. A struggle ensued. Guards were able to handcuff Herlihy.
It was unclear if he ever got to cash in the chips. No one was seriously injured in the confrontation.
He was then taken to Des Plaines police headquarters. His case is to be turned over to state courts.
Children Left in Car
In an unrelated incident, young children were left alone in a car parked at Rivers Casino on Sunday while their father allegedly went into the sportsbook to gamble. He later was located and arrested.
The children, ages three and five, apparently were not injured. It was not immediately clear how long the kids were alone in the car. Casino security guards saw the two children in the car and then notified local cops.
The father, later identified as Esteban Meraz, 38, of Chicago, was found by authorities in the sportsbook. He was charged with two counts of endangering the life or health of a child, the Daily Herald, an Illinois newspaper. reported. His case was turned over to local courts for prosecution.
Casino Expands
Last year, the owners of Rivers Casino Des Plaines announced plans to increase the size of the suburban Chicago casino.
Churchill Downs Inc. revealed they were to invest $87 million for a 78,000-square-foot expansion. The two-story addition adds about 725 new gaming seats and makes Rivers the first casino in Illinois to reach the state limit of 2,000. The expanded casino floor opened in January.
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