Police arrest eight at casino’s pool

Undercover Las Vegas police detectives Sunday arrested seven tourists on drug charges and one local woman suspected of soliciting prostitution at the Hard Rock's Rehab pool, the second such operation in three months targeting hotel-casino pools.

"We are noticing that there has been an increase in some narcotics- and prostitution-related violations, and because of this, Metro is increasing its enforcement," department spokesman Bill Cassell said.

Cassell would not say whether the operation was announced to officials at the Hard Rock or whether hotel officials asked the department to perform the operation.

In a similar sting at the Rio's Sapphire Pool in July, Harrah's Entertainment, which owns the Rio, asked the department to perform the routine "integrity check." Ten people, including nine women, were arrested on prostitution and drug charges, and the Rio pool was closed indefinitely.

The seven arrested Sunday on drug charges are 25-year-old Roquito Santos of Alameda, Calif.; 29-year-old Rajaa A. Farah of San Leandro, Calif.; 30-year-old Igor Alejandra Garrido of Hayward, Calif.; 29-year-old Joshua Gilman of New York; 22-year-old Crystal Amlie Shields of Long Beach, Calif.; 21-year-old Heather Erickson of Long Beach, Calif.; and 27-year-old Robert Baldwin of New York.

North Las Vegas resident Nancy Veley, 24, was arrested and accused of soliciting prostitution.

The stings follow a July 9 complaint by the Nevada Gaming Control Board about the Privé nightclub at Planet Hollywood. The complaint alleged that lewd sexual acts, illegal drug use and dangerous levels of drug abuse occurred at the club.

Cassell said that the stings were routine and that the department has been doing them for "quite some time."

"It's not something new, and it's not in response to any specific problem that may have occurred in any specific location," he said.

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.