Updated 4:35 p.m. - Breaking - Robbery at Naskila Gaming
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By Brian Besch
A man is in custody after a robbery led police on a chase this morning
from Naskila Gaming.
The call came into the Alabama-Coushatta Police Department at 5:58
a.m. and they were on the scene one minute later. They entered the
parking lot to find a man, identified as Marquel Fitzgerald, 34, of
Houston, sprinting to a white Dodge Charger with multiple cash-out
tickets. Fitzgerald is said to have a “lengthy history” with law
enforcement and will now face multiple felony charges stemming from
this incident.
“That's what started this, he grabbed those and fled,”
Alabama-Coushatta Police Chief Rex Evans said. “One of the guests had
placed them (at the cashier's booth) and the cashier just had not
reached up to get them yet. It was that fast. It was almost like a
smash-and-grab robbery; very similar to that. The opportunity
presented itself and this was a career criminal. He took advantage of
the opportunity.”
There is also one patron in which Fitzgerald had contact and law
enforcement is still trying to determine whether the items stolen were
cash, tickets or both from the senior citizen.
The pursuit began immediately thereafter.
“The suspect did flee with property from the casino and threw that
property out of the window as the chase was underway,” Evans said. “We
have recovered some of that property and detectives are still getting
an accurate picture of what all that property is.”
Law enforcement was led on a pursuit down Highway 190, then southbound
on Highway 59. The chase ended in Kingwood just past North Park Drive
at the Kingwood Drive exit.
A tire blew out from damage involved in one of two accidents he had
with civilians.
Livingston PD, DPS and sheriff’s officers from Polk, Montgomery, San
Jacinto, Liberty and Harris County were all on the scene to assist the
Alabama-Coushatta PD.
“It was a serious situation, no doubt,” Evans said. “A lot of people
were involved and unfortunately Mr. Fitzgerald made a lot of poor
decisions that put us all in a tough spot.”
Once the suspect’s vehicle came to a stop, Fitzgerald remained in the
Dodge Charger for several minutes before exiting and obeying police
commands.
“There was a constant state of negotiation with him verbally, trying
to get him to exit the vehicle. At first, you just never know where
those situations may go, but he did eventually come around. You don't
want to see anyone injured or lose their life. I am glad he chose the
peaceful alternative. For the start of a bad situation, this is the
best possible outcome. I just wish he had not made the decisions that
he made.”
Evans said there has been no indication that a weapon was displayed,
nor was a weapon located inside the vehicle at the endpoint of the
pursuit.
Detectives are currently attempting to process how many were inside
the gaming center at the time of the robbery.
Multiple charges could be considered, Evans said, including federal
charges, since the crime occurred on the reservation. Among them are
felony evading, two counts of failure to stop and give information
from civilian vehicles struck during the chase, along with the
robbery.
Related Articles
Original Story
By Brian Besch
A man is in custody after a robbery led police on a chase this morning
from Naskila Gaming.
The call came into the Alabama-Coushatta Police Department at 5:58
a.m. and they were on the scene one minute later.
The pursuit began immediately thereafter, Alabama-Coushatta Police
Chief Rex Evans said.
“It was at the casino and the detectives are still on the scene
processing everything,” he said. “The suspect did remove some property
from the casino. Part of our investigation is still underway. The
suspect did flee with property from the casino and threw that property
out of the window as the chase was underway. We have recovered some of
that property and detectives are still getting an accurate picture of
what all that property is.”
Evans said at this time there has been no indication that a weapon was
displayed, nor was a weapon located inside the vehicle at the endpoint
of the pursuit.
The suspect is currently being described only as an adult male. Law
enforcement is currently awaiting fingerprints to return for
confirmation. However, Evans said his driver's license photograph and
the suspect’s face do match. The suspect's vehicle, reportedly a white
Dodge, also matches his driver's license information.
Law enforcement was led on a pursuit down Highway 190, then southbound
on Highway 59. The chase ended in Kingwood just past North Park Drive
at the Kingwood Drive exit.
Detectives are currently attempting to process how many were inside
the casino at the time of the robbery.
Multiple charges could be considered, Evans said, including federal
charges, since the crime occurred on the reservation. Among them are
felony evading, two counts of failure to stop and give information
from civilian vehicles struck during the chase, along with the
robbery.
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