Vegas Casino Heist Suspect Restrained In Court

A man charged with robbing a Las Vegas casino has been wheeled into court in a restraint chair with his mouth covered by a spit mask after becoming combative.

Scott Carmitchel is accused of stealing $43,500 (£25,700) at gunpoint from a cashier at the Bellagio on Friday night before spending the money on luxury goods and prostitutes.

Police said the 34-year-old had refused to co-operate since he was arrested on Saturday night, even resisting officers' attempts to hold his head steady for a mug shot.

Carmitchel is said to have given detectives a false name and claimed that he found the cash in a black bag in the car park of the Bellagio before being charged with battery, grand larceny, burglary and robbery with a deadly weapon.

Officer Larry Hadfield told Sky News: "That individual was combative and aggressive toward officers.

"He was in a restraint chair and had a spit mask because he has been spitting at officers.

"He did not respond to the judge - you can still speak (while wearing a spit mask). That individual is now in isolation at Clark County Detention Center."

During Carmitchel's arrest, four sex workers were detained leaving his hotel room, two of them carrying wads of cash still bound in Bellagio labels.

They said the suspect had been paranoid and delusional, according to a police report.

Officers searched the room and found $10,000 in cash along with an air gun they suspect was used in the robbery.

They also recovered a $1,800 pair of black Louis Vuitton shoes and an $800 Louis Vuitton belt, along with the receipts.

About half the money taken is still missing, police said.