Police name OJ Simpson suspect in casino break-in RAW STORY

Published: Friday September 14, 2007





Print This Email This Former football legend O.J. Simpson, acquitted of killing his ex-wife thirteen years ago, has been named as a suspect in a Las Vegas casino break-in, according to various news reports. "Investigators questioned O.J. Simpson and named him a suspect Friday in a break-in at a casino hotel room involving sports memorabilia," Kathleen Hennessey reports for the Associated Press. The gossip web site TMZ.com asks, "Did OJ rob a guy?" Although no charges had been filed and no one was in custody, "Sources say OJ Simpson and five other men barged into a hotel room last night, and at gunpoint, took various memorabilia once owned by Simpson," TMZ staff write. According to an AP report, many of Simpson's sports collectibles, including his Heisman Trophy, were seized by the courts and auctioned to pay some of the $33.5 million judgment awarded to the Goldman family and the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson. Auction house owner Tom Riccio called Simpson weeks ago to alert him that collectors were trying to peddle his former belongings quietly. Simpson, who was town for a friend's wedding, "arranged to meet Riccio, who set up a meeting with collectors under the guise that he had a private collector interested in buying Simpson's items." The former All-Pro later told the AP there was no armed robbery and no guns were involved. Simpson, one of the most famous American footballers of his generation during the 1970s, was charged in the brutal 1994 murders of estranged wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson, who always has vehemently denied the killings, was acquitted of the slayings after a racially charged Los Angeles trial in 1995, a verdict that was greeted with widespread outrage across America. The former sports star was subsequently found liable for the deaths in a 1997 civil suit and was ordered to pay damages to the victims' families totaling 33.5 million dollars. Excerpts from AP article: # The break-in was reported at the Palace Station casino late Thursday night, police spokesman Jose Montoya said. He said investigators determined the break-in involved sports collectibles. "When they talked to him, Simpson made the comment that he believed the memorabilia was his," Montoya said. "We're getting conflicting stories from the two sides." Simpson was released after he and several associates were questioned, but he is considered a suspect in the case, Montoya said. He is believed to be in Las Vegas. "We don't believe he's going anywhere," he said. # Excerpts from TMZ article: # It happened at the Palace Station Hotel last night at around 7:15. Alfred Beardsley, a memorabilia dealer, had secured various items once owned by Simpson. Beardsley has said he had the suit OJ wore the day he was acquitted of murder. Beardsley tells TMZ he had arranged to meet with someone last night who was interested in buying the suit and other Simpson memorabilia. Beardsley says the man was actually a member of Simpson's crew. He says the men stormed the room, two of them had guns drawn. Beardsley says the men claimed to be police officers. OJ and others demanded that Beardsley and two other men surrender their cell phones. Beardsley refused to do so. Beardsley says the group stole every piece of memorabilia in the room, including items signed by Joe Montana. They also took a case of never-released leather editions of Simpson's book, "I Want to Tell You." # (with wire reports) The following video is from Fox's Studio B, broadcast on September 14.



