Gun allegedly brandished in Chukchansi casino over spilled coffee
Courtesy of Madera County Sheriff’s Office
(ABOVE LEFT) Don Pisano, 21, after his arrest by county deputies after he allegedly threatened to shoot a Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino employee over spilled coffee. (ABOVE RIGHT) A loaded handgun allegedly found on Pisano after reports he brandished it.
Authorities arrested a Maderan inside Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino for allegedly showing a loaded handgun Wednesday to a casino employee, telling her he almost shot her coworker for spilling coffee on him.
Don Pisano, 21, was booked into county jail on charges of carrying a concealed, stolen weapon, carrying a loaded, stolen weapon in public, being armed in the commission of a felony, battery of a police officer four counts of resisting arrest.
Madera County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Tyson Pogue said four deputies were called to the casino around 6:14 a.m. after Pisano allegedly brandished the gun. When they arrived, they found Pisano walking the gaming floor. He refused commands at gunpoint to stop and tried to walk away, so deputies forced him to the ground and handcuffed him. Even so, Pisano continued to kick and spit at the four deputies.
During the fight, deputies felt a handgun in Pisano’s pocket, Pogue said. After restraining Pisano, deputies pulled a loaded handgun from his pocket. Pisano, who continued to kick and resist, was taken to county jail unharmed.
Investigation revealed Pisano’s vehicle in the casino’s parking lot. Seeing a rifle inside, deputies obtained a search warrant. The rifle, registered to Pisano, carried a round in its chamber. The hangun Pisano had displayed had been stolen from a vehicle in Fresno in August of 2016.
Chukchansi Tribal Chairwoman Claudia Gonzales acknowledged the incident and said the casino is working with the sheriff’s office to investigate it. “The safety and security of our guests and employees is our first priority,” she said, thanking the resort’s security team and deputies for handling the situation well.
