Plenty of performers from the male strip revue Thunder From Down Under noticed a man wandering backstage Tuesday, but a masculine guy with a chiseled jaw in a fireman shirt isn’t an unusual sight in the dressing rooms frequented by the show’s fit, muscular men.
But when the man appeared to be stealing props and costumes, the dancers brought their thunder offstage.
A Metro Police arrest report released today provides a dramatic account of the behind-the-scenes confrontation at the Excalibur between the dancers and a man whose identity remains a mystery.
According to the report:
Dancer Ryan Paki became suspicious when he noticed a suitcase, several of the show's props and even some of his own costumes in a clump by an exit. Paki grabbed the show director and while the pair were inspecting the suitcase, the suspect approached them.
“What are you doing? I just bought all that stuff for my girlfriend,” the suspect said.
Five dancers went to see what was happening, and together the performers tried to take back the props and costumes.
A fight broke out.
“I got a gun, I’m gonna shoot,” the suspect said as he whipped out a .44 Magnum handgun.
The suspect put the gun to performer Scott Berchtold’s head.
As the suspect went to pull the trigger, one of the men pushed the gun away from Berchtold.
The bullet hit a wall and the gun skidded to the floor, allowing the performers to detain the suspect until hotel security arrived.
Dancer Matthew Fardell suffered minor injuries related to the gun discharging but was treated on scene and went back to performing.
The suspect, who appears to be in his 20s, was taken to University Medical Center and treated for injuries the dancers inflicted during the backstage scuffle.
A jailhouse booking photo shows a black eye and facial bruises.
"The suspect definitely got the worst of it," Metro Officer Laura Meltzer said.
While at the hospital, the suspect was “extremely violent” with medical personnel, refused to say who he was and had to be sedated, police reported
After being treated at UMC, the suspect was booked into Clark County Detention Center on one count each of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a deadly weapon and burglary with a deadly weapon.
“Everybody is fine,” Penny Levin, a representative for Thunder From Down Under, said in a statement. “The show remains on schedule, with 12 performances a week at Excalibur. We look forward to seeing everybody at the show.”
Sun reporter John Katsilometes and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/mar/19/man-almost-shot-head-thunder-tussle-excalibur-poli/
But when the man appeared to be stealing props and costumes, the dancers brought their thunder offstage.
A Metro Police arrest report released today provides a dramatic account of the behind-the-scenes confrontation at the Excalibur between the dancers and a man whose identity remains a mystery.
According to the report:
Dancer Ryan Paki became suspicious when he noticed a suitcase, several of the show's props and even some of his own costumes in a clump by an exit. Paki grabbed the show director and while the pair were inspecting the suitcase, the suspect approached them.
“What are you doing? I just bought all that stuff for my girlfriend,” the suspect said.
Five dancers went to see what was happening, and together the performers tried to take back the props and costumes.
A fight broke out.
“I got a gun, I’m gonna shoot,” the suspect said as he whipped out a .44 Magnum handgun.
The suspect put the gun to performer Scott Berchtold’s head.
As the suspect went to pull the trigger, one of the men pushed the gun away from Berchtold.
The bullet hit a wall and the gun skidded to the floor, allowing the performers to detain the suspect until hotel security arrived.
Dancer Matthew Fardell suffered minor injuries related to the gun discharging but was treated on scene and went back to performing.
The suspect, who appears to be in his 20s, was taken to University Medical Center and treated for injuries the dancers inflicted during the backstage scuffle.
A jailhouse booking photo shows a black eye and facial bruises.
"The suspect definitely got the worst of it," Metro Officer Laura Meltzer said.
While at the hospital, the suspect was “extremely violent” with medical personnel, refused to say who he was and had to be sedated, police reported
After being treated at UMC, the suspect was booked into Clark County Detention Center on one count each of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a deadly weapon and burglary with a deadly weapon.
“Everybody is fine,” Penny Levin, a representative for Thunder From Down Under, said in a statement. “The show remains on schedule, with 12 performances a week at Excalibur. We look forward to seeing everybody at the show.”
Sun reporter John Katsilometes and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/mar/19/man-almost-shot-head-thunder-tussle-excalibur-poli/
