Dante. The man you think I am has sadly passed away. Thus,if he is in fact dead,there is no way that I can be he nor he I. This is who you speak of correct? Did anyone else know him?
February 12, 2004
Authorities probe death of man who burst into Sands building
By JOHN CURRAN Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY - Authorities are still investigating the death of a Sicklerville man who forced his way into a casino administration building and died after a scuffle with guards that was captured on videotape.
The handcuffed body of Lanier J. Blunt, 29, of Sicklerville, was found in the lobby of the Sands Casino Hotel Administrative Offices when police - responding to a 911 call from casino security - arrived, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Blitz.
The cause of death is unknown.
According to Blitz, Blunt forced open a locked door at the Kentucky Avenue building just before midnight Monday, appearing disoriented. The 5-foot-9 inch, 235-pound man was forcibly subdued by about five guards in plain view of a surveillance camera before casino security called 911 at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Blitz said.
When Officers Paul Wegner and Rebecca Forth arrived, Blunt was lying face down and was unresponsive. An ambulance was called to take him to the Atlantic City Medical Center, City Division, where he was pronounced dead at 12:54 a.m.
An autopsy performed Tuesday by Atlantic County Medical Examiner Dr. Hydow Park was inconclusive, pending the results of toxicology tests and further police investigation, according to Blitz.
Other than a "small contusion" on the forehead, the body showed no signs of trauma, Blitz said. No weapons were used, according to Blitz, who has seen the videotape.
"Clearly, there was a struggle. I think the M.E. needs the results of the toxicology tests in conjunction with a review of the incident and the circumstances before he'd be in a position of rendering more of an opinion," Blitz said.
The guards involved, whom he would not name, have been interviewed by investigators.
Asked whether any would face charges, Blitz said a decision will be made once the investigation is complete.
The administrative office, which is located in an eight-story office building a block from the casino, handles employment and houses a telephone reservations center. It is open 24 hours a day, but there was no indication Blunt had any business with it or any of its employees.
"This person had no relationship whatsoever with the Sands," said Sands President Tom Davis. "The information we've been given is that he was on parole for something, but he had no association with us."
Blunt, who was convicted of robbery and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in 1997, was paroled from a three- to 10-year prison sentence two weeks before his death, according to Department of Corrections spokesman Matt Schuman.
Family members could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The town house listed as his home address was padlocked from the outside and appeared to be unfurnished. Two neighbors interviewed said they didn't know him.
Casino security guards and police have been involved in some high-profile cases involving unruly customers in recent years.
In 2000, former Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino security guard Mark Petty was sentenced to seven years in prison for the fatal 1998 beating of a gambler in a security office.
That same year, a former Atlantic City police officer drew a five-year prison term for lying to cover up the videotaped beating of a fan at a Van Halen concert at Trump Marina Hotel Casino in 1998.
The victim, who survived the beating, was punched, kicked and kneed as he struggled with officers attempting to handcuff him after he was caught smoking marijuana in the casino.
Officer Thomas "Tad" DiLorenzo, 33, was acquitted of aggravated assault but convicted of false swearing, filing a false police report and two counts of official misconduct.
February 12, 2004
Authorities probe death of man who burst into Sands building
By JOHN CURRAN Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY - Authorities are still investigating the death of a Sicklerville man who forced his way into a casino administration building and died after a scuffle with guards that was captured on videotape.
The handcuffed body of Lanier J. Blunt, 29, of Sicklerville, was found in the lobby of the Sands Casino Hotel Administrative Offices when police - responding to a 911 call from casino security - arrived, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Blitz.
The cause of death is unknown.
According to Blitz, Blunt forced open a locked door at the Kentucky Avenue building just before midnight Monday, appearing disoriented. The 5-foot-9 inch, 235-pound man was forcibly subdued by about five guards in plain view of a surveillance camera before casino security called 911 at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Blitz said.
When Officers Paul Wegner and Rebecca Forth arrived, Blunt was lying face down and was unresponsive. An ambulance was called to take him to the Atlantic City Medical Center, City Division, where he was pronounced dead at 12:54 a.m.
An autopsy performed Tuesday by Atlantic County Medical Examiner Dr. Hydow Park was inconclusive, pending the results of toxicology tests and further police investigation, according to Blitz.
Other than a "small contusion" on the forehead, the body showed no signs of trauma, Blitz said. No weapons were used, according to Blitz, who has seen the videotape.
"Clearly, there was a struggle. I think the M.E. needs the results of the toxicology tests in conjunction with a review of the incident and the circumstances before he'd be in a position of rendering more of an opinion," Blitz said.
The guards involved, whom he would not name, have been interviewed by investigators.
Asked whether any would face charges, Blitz said a decision will be made once the investigation is complete.
The administrative office, which is located in an eight-story office building a block from the casino, handles employment and houses a telephone reservations center. It is open 24 hours a day, but there was no indication Blunt had any business with it or any of its employees.
"This person had no relationship whatsoever with the Sands," said Sands President Tom Davis. "The information we've been given is that he was on parole for something, but he had no association with us."
Blunt, who was convicted of robbery and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in 1997, was paroled from a three- to 10-year prison sentence two weeks before his death, according to Department of Corrections spokesman Matt Schuman.
Family members could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The town house listed as his home address was padlocked from the outside and appeared to be unfurnished. Two neighbors interviewed said they didn't know him.
Casino security guards and police have been involved in some high-profile cases involving unruly customers in recent years.
In 2000, former Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino security guard Mark Petty was sentenced to seven years in prison for the fatal 1998 beating of a gambler in a security office.
That same year, a former Atlantic City police officer drew a five-year prison term for lying to cover up the videotaped beating of a fan at a Van Halen concert at Trump Marina Hotel Casino in 1998.
The victim, who survived the beating, was punched, kicked and kneed as he struggled with officers attempting to handcuff him after he was caught smoking marijuana in the casino.
Officer Thomas "Tad" DiLorenzo, 33, was acquitted of aggravated assault but convicted of false swearing, filing a false police report and two counts of official misconduct.
