A 42-year-old female in Indiana has been taken into custody and accused of felony robbery after surveillance footage from a casino recorded her allegedly threatening an 88-year-old woman on July 5 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson.
In the case of Indiana v. Andrea Smith, state authorities claim that Smith waited in the parking area of the racino, managed by Caesars Entertainment, before she targeted the elderly lady, who was with her daughter whose age is not specified. The probable cause affidavit submitted in the Madison County Circuit Court suggests that Smith approached the two females and demanded that the older woman surrender her handbag.
As stated in a probable cause affidavit referenced by local NBC station WTHR, Smith aimed a firearm at the women.
“I will use it. I will kill you,” Smith allegedly warned.
Smith then struggled with the elderly woman in an attempt to take her purse. The 88-year-old alongside her daughter succeeded in pushing Smith away. Casino footage captured Smith as she hurriedly escaped to her car, successfully making her getaway.
Court documents describe Smith as a Black female, measuring 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds.
Investigators Locate Attacker
With the assistance of surveillance images from Harrah’s, authorities were able to swiftly determine that Smith had fled in a silver Chevrolet Malibu. Although the video did not capture her license plate, investigators observed that the vehicle was missing its gas tank door.
After local law enforcement was notified about the car, Smith was found and taken into custody on July 18 during a routine traffic stop. Her physical appearance, height, and physique matched that of the individual recorded by the security cameras at Harrah’s casino.
Smith faces charges of felony robbery in the fifth degree. Should she be found guilty, Smith could receive a sentence of up to six years in prison along with possible fines reaching up to $10,000.
Prosecutors from the state are pursuing habitual offender classification for Smith, having filed a notice of intent with the court on July 27. This designation is given to individuals with at least two previous unrelated felony convictions and comes with considerable enhancements to the sentence.
Records from the court indicate that just hours prior to the attempted robbery at Harrah’s, police had stopped Smith. She received a traffic citation for making an improper turn at an intersection as well as for ignoring a traffic signal—both violations of traffic laws.
The officer who stopped Smith reported seeing a firearm inside her vehicle. Court records indicate that Smith owes a total of $210.50 related to this incident, which includes a $71 fine and $139.50 in various filing fees.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park
Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino serves as a standardbred horse racetrack and racino situated around 30 miles to the northeast of Indianapolis. The racetrack hosts 160 live racing days annually.
Covering an area of 86,100 square feet, the casino features 1,250 slot machines, 40 table games, and includes a Caesars Sportsbook.
