Terrorism director glad to receive wrong report regarding fuel barrel vans at Circus Circus
What was first relayed to police as a possible threat to a Strip hotel-casino turned out to be a case of two stolen vans containing diesel fuel barrels. While the concern proved unfounded, reporting such incidents is an important step in combating terrorism, according to the director of the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center.
Four people were arrested Thursday in connection with two stolen vans in a parking lot at Circus Circus, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
The incident unfolded just after 5 a.m. Thursday when Metro was called by security at the Circus Circus, 2880 Las Vegas Boulevard South, about a possible threat to the casino. Security reported that a white Ford van was leaking what appeared to be diesel fuel, an arrest report said. A maintenance worker opened the back of the van, discovered several plastic containers, and “affixed a cork” to one of the leaking barrels to stop the leak, the report said.
A second van parked near the first van “appeared to have the same plastic containers as the first van,” the report said.
Detectives investigating the case determined the liquid was diesel and tracked the vans to four people in a Circus-Circus hotel room. When detectives interrogated one of the suspects, it was discovered that the vehicles were stolen.
Angel Espino, Albert Hernandez and Raymundo Pivaral each face one charge each of possession of a stolen vehicle, court records show. Yazzmin Aguinaga, who was also arrested Thursday, did not face any charges as of Saturday, court records show.
The investigation “didn’t find any nexus to terrorism,” said Metro Capt. Christopher Darcy, director of the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center.
Vehicles carrying large amounts of diesel are not uncommon, he said Friday. In some cases, people have siphoned the diesel from various sources in the hopes of selling it to other parties, such as construction sites.
While the incident was not terrorism-related, Darcy said he appreciates the public’s response in the matter, particularly in the wake of the Brussels terrorist attacks.
“I would rather respond to a thousand nothings than miss the one something,” he said.
Reports of possible terrorist activity increase after terror attacks abroad, Darcy said. “It is in people’s minds,” and that heightened awareness leads to more reports of suspicious activity.
That, Darcy said, is a good thing.
“We need that increased vigilance.”
Contact Christian Bertolaccini at cbertolaccini@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @bertolaccinic
