Casino robbed today

CHARENTON — A man walked out of Cypress Bayou Casino with a backpack full of cash this morning, and it was not winnings from the slot machines or blackjack tables.

A witness, who declined to provide his name, said a masked man walked into the casino carrying a handgun around 5 a.m. He jumped through an opening in the cashier’s desk, filled up a backpack with money and ran out the door.

“He just caught everybody totally off guard,” the witness said. “There was hardly anybody playing.”

The witness said the man threw a stack of money across the blackjack tables as he was leaving, but said nothing.

“It kind of shows how good the security is,” he said. “Nobody ever touched him.”

Patrick Darden, executive director of the Chitimacha Gaming Division, confirmed the robbery took place, but said he had little other information. He referred questions to the Chitimacha Police Department.

“At the present time, we’re just trying to gather whatever information we can,” he said.

Chitmacha Police Chief Blaise Smith did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman John Sonnier said the sheriff’s office assisted in the robbery investigation, but referred all questions to the Chitimacha Police Department.