A Brooklyn man is jailed after he allegedly brandished a knife at casino security trying to intervene in a physical assault.
Christopher Capellan, 36, and a woman who he was in a dating relationship with were in a verbal dispute at Harrahs’ Atlantic City on Wednesday, when Capellan grabbed her and pushed her, police said.
“At least a half-dozen unarmed security guards confronted him,” witness Taylor Henry told BreakingAC. “One, a guard well over 6 feet, tried to separate them.
“People in the lobby started shouting, ‘He’s got a knife!’ The guard stepped away and the man pulled the woman down a corridor behind the check-in counter where a bank of elevators is located,” he continued.
Henry, who is staying at the hotel for the Catholic Media Conference, said they lost sight of things at that point.
Security officers got to the hotel room where the two were, and could hear a physical altercation inside, police said.
Henry said two or three Atlantic City police officers came running through the lobby from the front entrance about 10 minutes later.
One of the officers was carrying a long gun, Henry said.
They entered the room and arrested Capellan, police said.
A knife was recovered.
“An ambulance team arrived, went behind the counter to the hall with the elevators but left with an empty stretcher,” Henry said.
The woman showed obvious signs of injury, but refused medical attention, according to police.
Terry Dickson, who also is attending the conference, captured a photo of the arrest. Henry posted it on Facebook with some information about what he saw.
Capellan is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on charges of terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, criminal restraint and two counts of simple assault.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Atlantic City police at 609-347-5766. Information also may be texted anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.