Summary:
- The three robberies took place over four months.
- Rogers is said to have used his police weapon in the robberies.
- Almost $165,000 was stolen during the casino heists.
The trial of a Las Vegas police officer accused of robbing three casinos begins today. Caleb Rogers, age 35, is set to fight charges that he took almost $165,000 from casinos in Sin City to pay debt from his gambling habits. Prosecutors argue that Rogers took the money while using his police issue weapon.
A Weak Case
According to the defense, the case against Rogers is weak. Richard Pocker, the attorney representing Rogers, says that the evidence that supposedly ties his client to two of the robberies will not be held up in court.
Pocker says that police and the FBI pressured two people, one of which was Roger’s brother, to identify him as a suspect so the cases would be closed. Police say that Rogers took $85,000 during the first two robberies. The first was said to have occurred in November 2021, and the second the following January.
Police spent months trying to figure out who the robber was, and a third robbery occurred. The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino was the subject this time, and around $79,000 was taken. This robbery occurred in February 2022. However, this time around, security was able to catch the individual.
Police indicate that the robber took the same approach with all three crimes. He would wear a face mask and dark clothes. He wore dark gloves, and once the cashier handed over the money, the robber would place the money in a bag under his jacket. He also had a certain gait that was seen on camera, which investigators attribute to an issue with the individual’s leg.
Currently On Unpaid Leave
Rogers has been with the Las Vegas Metro Police Department for seven years and remains employed. He is on unpaid leave and does not retain any powers as a police officer. Remaining in the position will depend on the outcome of the court case.
The prosecution has several individuals testifying for their side, including the cashiers of the casino, security guards, and Josiah Rogers. Josiah is the brother of Caleb, and he was able to identify him on video camera footage from the casino’s security cameras.
Josiah will be granted immunity and will not face legal action for his testimony. Rogers was denied bail and has been in custody since his arrest. He reportedly used his brother’s car during one of the Las Vegas strip heists and told Josiah to get rid of the car afterward.
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