SWAT standoff at Caesars Palace ends; man had pulled woman into room, claimed he was armed

A five-hour standoff with SWAT officers took place Tuesday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas after a man, who told police he was armed, forcibly pulled a woman into his hotel room, officials said.

The incident prompted police to clear the pool area after someone in the hotel room broke a window. Video from the scene showed furniture being tossed out of a window during the standoff.

Five hours after the man barricaded himself in the hotel room, police said SWAT officers were able to enter the room and take the man into custody.

The woman who had been pulled into the room was safe and with officers, officials said in a tweet.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers were called to Caesars Palace by hotel security about 9:15 a.m. after hotel officials saw the man pull the woman into his hotel room, Capt. Stephen Connell said during a news briefing Tuesday.

When officers responded, the man said he had a weapon, according to Connell. SWAT officers were then called as a precaution, he said.

Brooke Cantrell, a guest at the hotel who was in the pool area, told local outlet CBS 8 News Now that she saw a chair come crashing down after being thrown out the window.

No shots were fired, and Connell said officers had not seen the man wielding a weapon during the standoff.

Crisis negotiators were also called to respond, Connell said.

It is unclear at this point whether the man and woman know each other or have any kind of relationship, Connell said.

A spokesperson for Caesars Entertainment did not respond when asked whether areas of the hotel were closed or being cordoned off but told The Times the hotel staff was cooperating with law enforcement.