Casino 'Shootout' Leads To False Report Arrest: Des Plaines PD

DES PLAINES, IL — A Chicago man has been charged with a felony after he reportedly called in a false report that eight people with firearms were involved in a shootout at Rivers Casino over the weekend. Jaime Ramos, 23, of the 3900 block of W. Altgeld Street, was charged with felony disorderly conduct (false report to a public safety agency) following the incident Saturday at 3000 S. River Road.

Ramos was released following his arrest and is due back in court at a future date.

Police were called to the casino at 2:43 a.m. for a report of gunshots being fired. A caller had told Des Plaines dispatch that there was a "shootout occurring at the casino" and then elaborated it involved eight people with multiple firearms. Des Plaines police, along with the Rosemont Police Department, responded with several units, "depleting the officers available to service the City," according to police.

When the first police officers arrived at the casino, they checked the area and did not find anything suspicious or related to the call. In addition, dispatch said there was only the one call regarding the incident. Additional units checked the property and were unable to locate any unusual behavior, injured people or distraught patrons. Illinois State Police conducted an interior check, which also resulted in nothing.

Police were able to run the phone number associated with the caller and identified the account belonging to Ramos.

At 3:33 a.m., a 911 caller said there was a physical fight happening outside the casino. When police arrived, they spoke with security, who pointed out Ramos as being involved in the fight. Police, who recognized Ramos, approached him and saw a cellphone in his pocket. Dispatch was advised to call the number on the call log from the previous incident. Subsequently, the phone in Ramos' pocket rang, and he was arrested.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office approved the felony charge.