The Joliet Police Department is still looking for tips after a Saturday night bomb threat emptied out Hollywood Casino Joliet.
Officers arrived at 10:18 p.m. Saturday after the Chicago-area casino received a phone call from “an unknown male” who told the staff there were multiple bombs. The caller also told casino staff he’d detonate the bombs remotely.
Authorities and staff emptied out both the popular IL casino floor and the hotel. As guests left the building, officers with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office brought in a bomb-sniffing dog.
The casino is back open and hotel guests were back in Saturday night.
On Sunday, the Joliet Police Department issued a statement about the threat and evacuation:
“The area was deemed to be safe following an extensive search of both buildings. Following the search, hotel guests were allowed back into their rooms. However, the casino remained closed overnight as a precaution.”
The Joliet PD press release lists Sgt. Dwayne English as the contact person about the incident. PlayIllinois left word with him to find out how many people had to leave the premises Saturday night.
We have some idea of the capacity at the Hollywood Casino Joliet in the meantime:
- The venue has 100 hotel rooms and an 80-space area for RVs.
- Casino staff and authorities also evacuated customers from the 50,000-square-foot gaming floor, which features table games, video poker and more than 1,100 video slot machines.
Bomb threat unfounded, but Joliet PD needs more help
In addition to the DuPage County K-9, Kane County Sheriff’s Officers and the Joliet Fire Department helped search the building for explosives.
The Joliet Police Department needs more help. They call the bomb threat “an active investigation in its early stages.”
Use one of the following options to assist with the investigation:
- Joliet Police Department Investigation Unit — 815-724-3020
- Tipsters who want to remain anonymous can contact Will County Crime Stoppers. They take calls at 800-323-6734 or leave casino bomb threat tips at this site.
- Crime Stoppers offer rewards of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. The tip line does not have caller ID, according to the website. Informants can text “willcocs” and the tip to 274637 as well.
