Danny Medina robbed in Vegas.

jay helfert

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
Danny was jumped about 11PM the night before last in downtown Vegas, after turning down a transient who asked for money. He was attacked from behind by a second man with a hammer. They broke his jaw and he had to get it wired. They stole all his money, including the entry fee for the Tour Championships. I sent them (Danny and Laurette) money to buy medecine and get home to Denver.

Posting this as a word to the wise for whoever plans to attend the Pro Tour Championship at Binions in downtown Vegas. A nasty little secret is how dangerous Vegas has become. Not just trailer's being stolen, many muggings and crimes against people. You must use extreme caution there!

Too many petty criminals and drug addicts. These are desperate individuals who will do anything for money. Danny was robbed on Fremont St. right across from the Plaza with many people around who witnessed the crime.

There is a very strong police presence all over Vegas, but it is impossible to watch everywhere at once. Downtown is most dangerous. Walk in groups and stay close to the casino entrances, where there is security. Do not walk on the back streets, unless you are packing heat or have someone 6'5" and
260 with you.

This is one reason they moved the World Series Of Poker from downtown. Too many incidents (read that robberies) that had to be kept quiet. I stayed at Main St. Station during the 2003 and 2004 WSOP and had to walk two blocks to my room. I kept my little .25 in my back pocket and watched everyone I encountered along the way. I usually carried several thou with me.

Not fun to feel like you are being scouted and hunted. The popular image of Vegas as a big party town is counter to the ugly side of Vegas that is not as well known or as well publicized.
 
I'm going to Vegas in May. Forgive me for being ignorant, but is downtown the strip? I'm guessing not. Is the strip generally safe or should we take cabs everywhere?
 
downtown is "off" the strip and is a mini-strip of older casino's.

Google earth it... basically about 1.5 miles from the stratosphere on same street, there are shuttles that run back and forth between the strip proper and "downtown".

Yeah vegas can be rough!!!!
 
danny is no tiny guy either, man, that is just horrible news. im 6 feet tall and usually feel safe, i guess that is naive. one thing i would like to add to jays comments.... i can almost guarantee that these thugs knew danny had a certain amount of money on him. it doesnt have to be much anymore, but my point is right the second ANYBODY (receptionists, gas station attendants, bell hops, truly anybody) sees that you have money on you your odds of getting mugged go way up. you dont have to necessarily get mugged by them, but that info can get passed on. just try very hard to never show anyone you have more than 5 or 10 dollars cash on you. most already know this but i figure its worth repeating.
 
Here is a tip for traveling. Always keep a few lose bills for incidentals in your front pocket, so you never have to pull out the money clip except in the casinos. Also, I feel walking the strip is fairly safe WHEN it is crowded, but otherwise take cabs door to door, when going to and from the downtown section. I often thought of just carrying a cane around with me as a protection piece. Seeing a threat usually scares off one. But after reading about Danny, I think I will do that from now on. Even though there is not a lot you can do when getting hit from behind.

Thanks for the info Jay. Anywhere we can send our regards to Danny and Laurette?
 
Jay thanks for the heads up, I am really sorry to hear what happened to Danny. I will be heading to Vegas in about a month, I'll be sure to stay on alert.

I have travelled across the country and when I go to the bad part of certain towns or cities, what I do is I keep $40-50 in my pockets, and my real bankroll is on a money clip comfortably attached to the inside of my belt buckle. I have been robbed at gunpoint and knife point, and each time this was in another state, and the $40-50 I gave up was enough to satisfy the robbers. I also never wear jewelry or my nice watch when I go to these places. In other words, I don't flaunt whatever I have. After my experiences getting robbed, I really learned my lesson, which is to always watch your back when you are away from home.
 
Caesars Palace

About 25 years ago, my Aunt Mary was in an elevator at Caesar's Palace. At that time Caesar's was maybe the classiest joint on the strip. She was robbed and beaten up (she was in her 50s at the time)in the elevator. She never really recovered from her injuries and died within the year.

In Kilroy's Rules of the Road, (from my book, Banking With The Beard) a good suggestion is to keep your bankroll in 3 different pockets. Only a very experience stickup guy will ask you to empty more than 2. Also, never keep any cheese in the shoe. A dunce robber will make you take off your shoes. I speak from experience.

the Beard
 
enzo said:
danny is no tiny guy either, man, that is just horrible news. im 6 feet tall and usually feel safe, i guess that is naive. one thing i would like to add to jays comments.... i can almost guarantee that these thugs knew danny had a certain amount of money on him. it doesnt have to be much anymore, but my point is right the second ANYBODY (receptionists, gas station attendants, bell hops, truly anybody) sees that you have money on you your odds of getting mugged go way up. you dont have to necessarily get mugged by them, but that info can get passed on. just try very hard to never show anyone you have more than 5 or 10 dollars cash on you. most already know this but i figure its worth repeating.
Click to expand...

No,Danny is not a tiny guy and as matter of fact, He is not sissy by any means of the imagination either. He was a three year udefeated High School State wresting champ and just happened to be a pretty good boxer as well.
Danny can be reached at:
po box 326, Commerce City, Colo, 80027
 
This thread is very disturbing. I love Vegas and go there every year. I had been planning on trying to go there for the US Open 1p this year, but they held it at the Plaza last year I think and this makes me think twice about going anywhere near the Glitter Gulch area of Vegas.

Three years ago I cabbed out to Cuetopia from a strip hotel. I was also thinking of going back there in January when I am in Vegas again. Grady, is that the action joint in Vegas you were saying is dangerous to go to now?
 
I feel bad for Danny, but he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sadly no place is safe any longer with the EXCEPTION maybe of Singapore where CRIMINALS get Swift Justice, and shall we say Anti Social Behavior get dealt with ASAP.

Las Vegas is a Tourist Town, and Tourist are always MARK for Criminals who know they Carry money, and like most Big Cities LVPD is over worked, and undermanned.

If Dannys alleged attacker are caught they will go through the Justice For The Criminal System, when the Accused seem to have more right than the Victim...
 
djp2k6 said:
I'm going to Vegas in May. Forgive me for being ignorant, but is downtown the strip? I'm guessing not. Is the strip generally safe or should we take cabs everywhere?
Click to expand...

No, downtown is not the strip. The strip (where all the major casinos are) is generally safer, but not so safe you can be careless. Thieves and petty criminals abound in Vegas today. It is their "free lunch".
You must use caution the moment you leave a casino, any casino. Even walking the strip at night can be an adventure.
 
ironman said:
No,Danny is not a tiny guy and as matter of fact, He is not sissy by any means of the imagination either. He was a three year udefeated High School State wresting champ and just happened to be a pretty good boxer as well.
Danny can be reached at:
po box 326, Commerce City, Colo, 80027
Click to expand...

Danny is a tough guy. I know from spending time on the road with him years ago. He takes no shit from anyone and will defend himself.
He got ambushed this time, by two black guys. Please use caution when in Vegas. All cities can be dangerous, but Vegas has gotten ugly in the last few years. Many, many muggings and even killings.
Thanks for the heads up on how to reach Danny. If anyone wants to talk to him, PM me for a phone number.
 
Danny Medina

ironman said:
No,Danny is not a tiny guy and as matter of fact, He is not sissy by any means of the imagination either. He was a three year udefeated High School State wresting champ and just happened to be a pretty good boxer as well.
Danny can be reached at:
po box 326, Commerce City, Colo, 80027
Click to expand...

Tried to PM you. There is no space. Please contact me.
 
Danny Medina progress

Just found out, he is still in Las Vegas and will have further surgery on Tuesday. I suspect he will try to play in the Pro Tour Championship and the Rum Runner the following week.

That sounds like Danny, never one to quit or give up. If any of you would like to do something to help out, PM me and I'll let you know what to do.
I feel bad for him. He is a lifetime pool player who has played everyone and never backed away from anybody.

He still likes to play and wants to win again (and he will too). It's tough when a pool player gets old. There is no 401K or pension plan. Luckily for Danny, he does have family in Denver to go to.

Thanks for your concern.
 
That is terrible what happened to Danny, I hope he has a speedy recovery. I have been familiar with these problems in Vegas although I've never been there myself, isn't it the fastest growing city in the country? Any city that grows considerably will develop seriously worse crime problems.
 
Thanks, Jay, for reporting the disturbing circumstances in Vegas and for your unflagging support of the players. Hoping for a speedy recovery for Danny, who I've always found to be a really nice guy, and swift and sure punishment for the creeps that did this. Sounds like Vegas needs to get on the ball; 439 people viewed this thread and are having reservations about going to Vegas, particularly the Plaza. I know if I owned the Plaza and something like this happened in front of my joint (which it wouldn't cuz I would have made sure it was safe, even if I had to hire outside security people), Danny would have been "made right" with all hospital expenses and losses covered by me. I would recommend to the Vegas civic and business leaders the services of one Beau Dietl, who would blowtorch the scum right out of Vegas. We have similar incidents here in Orlando, but, trust me, the "street creeps" are kept under close wraps, plenty of cops are on the job, and our collective community consensus is to make sure visitors are as safe as humanly possible. We don't put up with muggers, they know it, and head out of town, if they're not already in the crossbar hotel. Want to gamble, come to Orlando, gamble on the great cruise ships and see Mickey in the same trip!
 
jnav447 said:
Thanks, Jay, for reporting the disturbing circumstances in Vegas and for your unflagging support of the players. Hoping for a speedy recovery for Danny, who I've always found to be a really nice guy, and swift and sure punishment for the creeps that did this. Sounds like Vegas needs to get on the ball; 439 people viewed this thread and are having reservations about going to Vegas, particularly the Plaza. I know if I owned the Plaza and something like this happened in front of my joint (which it wouldn't cuz I would have made sure it was safe, even if I had to hire outside security people), Danny would have been "made right" with all hospital expenses and losses covered by me. I would recommend to the Vegas civic and business leaders the services of one Beau Dietl, who would blowtorch the scum right out of Vegas. We have similar incidents here in Orlando, but, trust me, the "street creeps" are kept under close wraps, plenty of cops are on the job, and our collective community consensus is to make sure visitors are as safe as humanly possible. We don't put up with muggers, they know it, and head out of town, if they're not already in the crossbar hotel. Want to gamble, come to Orlando, gamble on the great cruise ships and see Mickey in the same trip!
Click to expand...


I spoke with Danny this morning. He can hardly talk. The police did make a report. There are security cameras in the area, but the hotels are reluctant to let anyone view the tapes. I would think they would have to show them to the police.
After the weekend I'm going to get the report number from Danny and call the police myself to see what's being done.
Danny is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday, the same day the Pro Tour Championships start. I told him that if he wants to play, I think Charlie would work with him to schedule a Wed. match.
 
Well Jay I was thinking of flying in on Wed to attend the matches. Now Im having second thoughts. I love downtown as all casinos are right across from each other. I am a loner and like to play in the poker tournaments. It precludes in having company as you never know when you get bounced early or last till the final table. I love to walk to the California Club as they serve a mean OxTail Soup but only from 11:00PM to 7:AM. But you have to walk through some lonely streets from Binions to get there. I been confronted by several transients on this walk but for panhandling only.
I figure it would cost me about $2000 for the trip. Hotel, plane, and gambling. But if the city fathers arent going to clean it up and if it can happen to a guy like Danny. They can do without my money. And Im not going to start carrying a gun.
 
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