Police have arrested a Rapid City man in connection with a string of casino robberies that have plagued the community over the past week.
Daniel Gillen, 50, was taken into custody late Monday night, according to Police Chief Steve Allender.
"We now believe there are direct links between three and possibly four of the
This particular crime spree is over, Allender said. "We think they're done. These guys are out of business."
Authorities believe the Monday night robbery of the Cash-N-Go on East Highway 44 is unrelated to the casino robberies, Allender said.
Police have identified a suspect in that robbery, and charges could be filed soon.
"We're still collecting evidence and looking for additional participants," Allender said. "We have good reason to believe it's an isolated incident."
Although Gillen was the only one Tuesday officially linked to the casino holdups, Allender said that investigation is not over. Additional suspects are being questioned.
"We're still working on the case," Allender said.
Police armed with search warrants searched Gillen's residence, a Box Elder residence, two Rapid City residences and a vehicle early Tuesday morning.
Gillen is charged as an accessory to the Nov. 14 robbery of Jokers Casino on Mount Rushmore Road. A man carrying a knife walked into the casino and demanded money from a casino employee.
Gillen is charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the Nov. 17 holdup at the Happy Jacks Casino on Mount Rushmore Road, in which two men with knives confronted an employee.
The third robbery occurred the next morning at Happy Jacks on Cambell Street, when a man wearing black "ninja-type" clothing and a mask used a sword to demand money.
A clerk was assaulted during the fourth robbery of another Happy Jacks on Timmons Boulevard last Saturday.
Gillen has not been charged in connection with the last two robberies, but he also was charged with possession of a controlled substance after materials used in the manufacture of methamphetamine were found during a search of his St. James Street apartment.
On Tuesday evening, Gillen was being held without bond in Pennington County Jail.
Allender said each robbery had the potential to turn into a dangerous situation.
"It's the perfect recipe for an extremely violent encounter," he said.
Over the past week, solving the string of robberies has been a priority for police, who have worked around the clock on the case, Allender said.
"We had a very well-staffed, high-quality robbery task force that made lots of sacrifices," he said.
The community also played a role in the investigation because several good tips from the public helped with the case, he said.
The $10,000 reward offered by M.G. Oil for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the holdups may have prompted some of those tips, Allender said. Exactly how and when the money might be distributed has not been discussed, he said.
Allender refused to say how much money was taken during the four casino robberies.
Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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