Man with knife robs city casino

| May 29, 2008 1:00 AM

The Daily Inter Lake

Kalispell police are investigating the early morning armed robbery of a casino on the corner of West Idaho Street and Fifth Avenue.

The suspect, wearing a mask similar to one worn in the movie "Scream" and brandishing a knife, entered the back door of Lucky Lil's Casino at about 12:55 a.m. Wednesday, said Kalispell police Chief Roger Nasset.

The masked man approached the casino's cage, demanded money from the on-duty clerk, and fled on foot with between $400 and $500.

Police arrived within five minutes after the clerk called 911, Nasset said. Investigators found the robber's discarded mask on West Washington Street, just north of the casino.

Two people were gambling in the casino at the time of the robbery and didn't appear to notice the robber when he walked in. No one was injured.

Nasset said he was confident an arrest will be made in connection to the incident.

Anyone with information on the robbery is encouraged to contact the Kalispell Police Department at (406) 758-7787 or CrimeStoppers at (406) 752-TIPS. Tips to CrimeStoppers are anonymous and the caller can be eligible for as much as a $1,000 reward.