Excessive security at the Rolling Hills casino.

Last week I was driving through northern California on the I-5 and paid a quick visit to the Rolling Hills casino. Nothing much to say about it. Typical roadside casino in a non-competitive environment.

I did notice at both entrances there were two enormous security guards. The kind of guys who could pass for an NFL linebacker or a bouncer at a rough Vegas strip club. Normally this wouldn't be very noteworthy but as I tried to snap a photo of the exterior of the casino and the two guards at the closest entrance barked at me, "No pictures of the building!"

So, I put my camera away and got to my car, which is a Toyota Highlander. Knowing that I might write about the casino later, and not liking how I was barked at about my photo attempt, I stood behind my car and quickly raised my hand above it and snapped a blind photo. I never thought they would notice. However, they did.

The next thing I knew a casino security vehicle came rushing out of nowhere and blocked my car from leaving its parking space. So I got out and say them taking pictures of my car and specifically the license plate. I said "Do you have something you want to say to me?" To this they started taking pictures of me. At this I started to pose for them and they took lots of pictures. Finally one of them reminded me in a rude tone of voice of their photography policy. To that I said that I looked forward to telling the story of how rude they were on my web site. At this they said "We told you no pictures" and backed up their car a bit and I left.

I tried to hotlink the photo from my Facebook page, but it didn't work. You can see it as my entry for June 22 on my Facebook page.

Now, I'm sure some here will take the casino's side, that they did ask me not to take a picture, and I did anyway. That is a valid point. However, there is still a rebellious side to me that likes to break silly rules. That does get me into trouble sometimes.

Personally, I think rules against photography of the exterior of casinos is ridiculous, especially in this age when everyone is walking around with a smart phone. I also think staffing every casino entrance with enormous bouncers staring people down as they enter does not make for a welcoming and friendly environment.

It would be easy for me to say I would never patronize the Rolling Hills casino after this experience, but it is so far from Vegas I never would anyway.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

Quote: BleedingChipsSlowly

Link is dead, at least for me.

The hotlink didn't work. Try my Facebook page. See the entry for today (June 22).

sounds like an underground/black market casino to me.
no one should visit such a place

Quote: Wizard

The hotlink didn't work. Try my personal Facebook page entry for today (June 22).

It appears that's only available to your friends...

gee, I did a friend request then saw the other site, then saw a link to the new site. My head started to spin but I think I finally found the most current one.

I take a picture of every casino inside and out that I go to. I have been yelled at about 20 times inside the casino but never once on the outside. That is just ridiculous. Just curious though, what type of camera were you using? Was it a ultra professional type or just a normal digital camera? If it was a professional type then maybe they thought you were using it for something like a promotion.

Quote: thecesspit

It appears that's only available to your friends...

Dang. Sorry about that. I just added it to my public page.

Do they have any legal grounds for this? You clearly weren't violating anyones privacy.

Of course not and using their security car to block him from backing out of his parking spot is false imprisonment.

Gotta guard those silly sun visors they give away there.


June 20th:Some of the Casino's 500 employees gathered for a group photo yesterday to celebrate a return to normal operations without the need for additional security at the entrances.

For several weeks there has been a stand off between Tehama County Sheriffs and Armed, Uniformed "Tribal Police" who tried to take over the casino after the Tribe had presumably disenrolled members of the tribe who wanted open account books and elections of tribal officers.

Quote: FleaStiff

Of course not and using their security car to block him from backing out of his parking spot is false imprisonment.

Gotta guard those silly sun visors they give away there.


June 20th:Some of the Casino's 500 employees gathered for a group photo yesterday to celebrate a return to normal operations without the need for additional security at the entrances.

For several weeks there has been a stand off between Tehama County Sheriffs and Armed, Uniformed "Tribal Police" who tried to take over the casino after the Tribe had presumably disenrolled members of the tribe who wanted open account books and elections of tribal officers.

if you google the name of the casino there are all kinds of articles about issues they have been having. I wonder if this is why there was extra harassment over a picture.

Quote: GWAE

if you google the name of the casino there are all kinds of articles about issues they have been having. I wonder if this is why there was extra harassment over a picture.

Brief Excerpt from the Sacremento Bee:

Citing a potential threat to public safety, a federal judge has imposed a temporary restraining order on the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians prohibiting warring factions from deploying armed guards or bringing firearms within 100 yards of the tribe’s Rolling Hills Casino in Corning.

The Tehama County dispute has all the elements of a Hollywood blockbuster – a missing private jet and gold bars, a cyberattack that shut down some gambling machines, a former FBI agent and tribal treasurer who are accused of embezzling millions of dollars, blood relatives trying to kick each other out of the tribe and alleged death threats and guns for hire armed with semi-automatic weapons on both sides.

Court documents indicate each side had about 50 armed security guards, and that the faction trying to regain control of the casino considered a helicopter assault on the facility.

ARTICLE

I thought I had heard of this casino for the automation automatic(edit:oops automatic weapons) weapons at the entrances recently. No wonder.

Shackleford is an old Indian name meaning "man who takes forbidden photos"

I can kinda understand the casino's paranoia after reading that article. For all they know, Mike is scouting out for the impending "helicopter asault."

Glad you made it out alive.

Nothing like wandering into a war zone without any forewarning. Geez.

Yeah, the only thing I can think of is that they may have thought you some ind of "spy for the other side"....goodness knows what that would mean anyway.

Imagine if Vegas casinos said nobody was allowed to take snaps of the outside. Isn't that why they build such beautiful properties, so people can marvel at the architecture?

Perhaps it was some architectural clause that nobody can copy any ideas found in the creation of this holy of holy casinos?

Just don't go back there ever again and give them as scathing a write up as you can!!!

Muppets!!!!

Thanks for this information. I had absolutely no idea about this back story. The guards who blocked my car in didn't seem like trained security but more like some big goons they found somewhere.

This does indeed sound like a movie-worthy story. I still don't really get how sovereign these "sovereign nations" really are.

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Like we needed another reason not to frequent redskin casinos.

Google maps has exterior and interior photos of the place.

Quote: Sabretom2

Like we needed another reason not to frequent redskin casinos.

Perhaps its good to have an occasional reminder. Indian casinos have certain disadvantages in their gambling AND non-gambling aspects. Auto accidents, lawyers, courts, jails, judges, ... that is not to say that a great many customers don't go inside and have a pleasant and at times quite profitable experience.

Its simply something to remember... crossing a border. Its a simple formality but a legally significant one.

Yes, you are very limited in your remedies against a tribal casino in this situation.

As sovereign nations, any claim you bring against them, including one for false imprisonment, must be brought in tribal court.

'Nuf said.

Quote: Wizard

Thanks for this information. I had absolutely no idea about this back story. The guards who blocked my car in didn't seem like trained security but more like some big goons they found somewhere.

This does indeed sound like a movie-worthy story. I still don't really get how sovereign these "sovereign nations" really are.

They are not sovereign at all. They still have to follow all state and federal laws. If you were the victim of a crime, call the real police and all of a sudden their "sovereignty" goes away.

I don't get why people who aren't even Indian say redskin is offensive. If it offends you, then bring it up -- if it doesn't offend you, then don't.

Probably because anyone it refers to is too busy getting all his tax free benefits to waste time with such trivial issues.

Wizard, I am late to this thread, but you should have called the police or sheriff or whoever is in charge of local law enforcement where you were.

Taking photographs in a public place on public property is not only not a crime, it's a constitutional right.

The casino security staff is free to ask you not to take photographs, and you are free to ignore them.

However, blocking your car with theirs and not allowing you to leave is absolutely false imprisonment and the security staff should have been arrested and taken away in handcuffs.

Next time someone imprisons you like this, call 911.

Quote: Boz

All I know is that Notre Dame needs to be next because not every Irish person I know likes to fight all the time.

And really, would true Cowboys ever want to be associated with Tony Romo?? Its an insult.

And the Steelers, how offensive is that to people on welfare who don't have a job in a steel plant?

Where does it stop?

Whatever is done in life will offend someone.

ohhh come on. You have really met an irish person that wouldn't fight after a beer? I call BS on that.

Quote: Sabretom2

I used it to make fun of the correctness knuckleheads.

I am glad I wasn't mistaken.

Quote: GWAE

ohhh come on. You have really met an irish person that wouldn't fight after a beer? I call BS on that.

Ok you are right on that one, but try and find me a true Cowboy who isn't insulted by Romo

And I see Acesandeights in red. I hope this topic wasn't the reason.

Quote: Boz

And I see Acesandeights in red. I hope this topic wasn't the reason.

Negative. This topic has yet to claim a member.

Quote: Wizard

Thanks for this information. I had absolutely no idea about this back story. The guards who blocked my car in didn't seem like trained security but more like some big goons they found somewhere.

This does indeed sound like a movie-worthy story. I still don't really get how sovereign these "sovereign nations" really are.

I'm on pg2 here, and had a HS moment. Looks like the Wiz stumbled into a real hornet's nest on a bad day (of very many it would appear). Yah, they were gruff, and under normal circumstances, I'd say outta line for sure. Not this time. I gotta back'em (security) just this once though it does really pain me to do so. CYA = stay alive, and stay open for business. It would appear violence was inevitible, or to be expected.

Posts about the Redskins have been moved here.

We're just all so gutless, self included. The proper response to them would have to be effers laden, at least once we're safe in the car driving a away out the window. I hate the pig response these goons use all the time. Some meathead moron at Hollywood Toledo told me I had to throw away my bottle of water walking in. Why? He says because you can't bring outside drinks into a casino. Big difference. When I sneak alcohol into a casino, I don't let them see it anyways, so what's the point of their power tripping?

The security guard was probably mistaken and had been told "outside drinks" meaning alcohol, but I happen to think that there is a retired sheriff near Sacramento county who wishes that particular guard had been on duty in a casino when his daughter was slipped a mickey by a pervert and then forced into his car and murdered.

Quote: onenickelmiracle

I hate the pig response these goons use all the time. Some meathead moron at Hollywood Toledo told me I had to throw away my bottle of water walking in. Why? He says because you can't bring outside drinks into a casino. Big difference. When I sneak alcohol into a casino, I don't let them see it anyways, so what's the point of their power tripping?

Really ?

He's a meathead moron for doing his job ? ? ?

Of course some people, not you perhaps - but some people, are going to put alcohol into a water bottle and bring it in.

It should be no big deal that he told you to toss your bottle of water before coming in. Hollywood Toledo has the free self-serve drink stations, right ? So just go over there and get yourself a new glass of water or a coffee / pepsi or whatever.

Would you be happier if he let you in with a bottle of water against casino policy and was fired ?

I would certainly agree that if he was a jerk or impolite or rude, then he was in fact a meathead moron (for being a jerk or impolite or rude, but not for doing his job).

Quote: onenickelmiracle

The proper response to them would have to be effers laden...

I don't know what this means

There is really nothing unusual going on at Rolling Hills. Not if you've observed the political infighting of virtually every tribe since the arrival of the Indian Casinos. Tribal councils wield unusual power on the Reservation. They have the power to negate referendums by the people. They can and will cut or eliminate a persons percap (the amount a tribal member draws per month from the profit generated by the casino) simply because of the persons political affiliation, family, etc. A person can be denied funds for higher education or denied a job on the reservation because of their political affiliation, family, etc. The reason so many houses look so shabby on the Reservation is because the houses are not privately owned, rather they are owned by the tribe. If you make improvements on the house and you are not in the right political click, you can be kicked out of the house and someone will be moved in that kowtows to the status quo. The IRS scandal is nothing compared to what is happening on the Reservations. Corruption runs rampant on Reservations across the country. I know that in Montana it is commonplace for tribal council members to be federally charged with theft, embezzlement, fraud, etc.

All the infighting revolves around casino profits and who controls it. I'm sure you remember the old Indian saying "White man speak with forked tongue." Well, in today's world another saying applies "Indian with money speaks with forked tongue."

Quote: mickeycrimm

There is really nothing unusual going on at Rolling Hills. Not if you've observed the political infighting of virtually every tribe since the arrival of the Indian Casinos. Tribal councils wield unusual power on the Reservation. They have the power to negate referendums by the people. They can and will cut or eliminate a persons percap (the amount a tribal member draws per month from the profit generated by the casino) simply because of the persons political affiliation, family, etc. A person can be denied funds for higher education or denied a job on the reservation because of their political affiliation, family, etc. The reason so many houses look so shabby on the Reservation is because the houses are not privately owned, rather they are owned by the tribe. If you make improvements on the house and you are not in the right political click, you can be kicked out of the house and someone will be moved in that kowtows to the status quo. The IRS scandal is nothing compared to what is happening on the Reservations. Corruption runs rampant on Reservations across the country. I know that in Montana it is commonplace for tribal council members to be federally charged with theft, embezzlement, fraud, etc.

All the infighting revolves around casino profits and who controls it. I'm sure you remember the old Indian saying "White man speak with forked tongue." Well, in today's world another saying applies "Indian with money speaks with forked tongue."

Edit: There have been countless cases of a person's tribal membership being revoked because of political affiliation. In comparison, how would you like your U.S citizenship revoked because of your political affiliation.

Many tribal memberships are traced to cavalry deserters or to escaped slaves who were welcomed or traders who often visited, but it is up to the tribe to determine its enrollment without any outside review whatsoever. Tribal culture and tribal rules are 'declared' by the insiders who control the money. Tribes who find themselves with bad roads or away from population centers can't compete for gamblers against better positioned tribes.

Quote: FleaStiff

Many tribal memberships are traced to cavalry deserters or to escaped slaves who were welcomed or traders who often visited, but it is up to the tribe to determine its enrollment without any outside review whatsoever. Tribal culture and tribal rules are 'declared' by the insiders who control the money. Tribes who find themselves with bad roads or away from population centers can't compete for gamblers against better positioned tribes.

I don't know of any tribes that require 100% blood to be a member. They may exist. But with tribes I'm familiar with, having non-Indians in your tree is not an automatic disqualification. With some tribes 25% blood is good enough. The Pequots, who own Foxwoods, look whiter than Dick Cheney.

Edit: "look whiter than Conan O'Brien." LOL.

Quote: FleaStiff

Tribes who find themselves with bad roads or away from population centers can't compete for gamblers against better positioned tribes.

Montana Indian casinos are in that predicament. And what you will find here is the casinos are small, maybe 200 machines at best. And you will also find that most of the gamblers in these casinos are Indians.

Quote: mickeycrimm

All the infighting revolves around casino profits and who controls it. I'm sure you remember the old Indian saying "White man speak with forked tongue." Well, in today's world another saying applies "Indian with money speaks with forked tongue."

I'd like to simplify that tidbit of wisdom to "money speaks with forked tongue". Money knows no race, creed, country, or habitat. The perversion and corruption of moral norms increases with the amount of said money. It takes a truly great person or entity to avoid such distortions.

Quote: 98Clubs

I'd like to simplify that tidbit of wisdom to "money speaks with forked tongue". Money knows no race, creed, country, or habitat. The perversion and corruption of moral norms increases with the amount of said money. It takes a truly great person or entity to avoid such distortions.

I like your quote better.

Quote: mickeycrimm

Edit: There have been countless cases of a person's tribal membership being revoked because of political affiliation. In comparison, how would you like your U.S citizenship revoked because of your political affiliation.

Right wing Republican are always trying to revoke my citizenship.

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