Authorities investigating theft at Santa Ysabel Casino

SANTA YSABEL: Authorities investigating theft at Santa Ysabel Casino
By Edward Sifuentes


Thieves took a large amount of money from the Santa Ysabel Casino near Julian, authorities said Tuesday morning.

Deputies were called about 8:11 a.m. Monday on a report that a significant amount of cash had been taken from a secured area in the casino, said Sgt. Thomas Evans.

Various agencies, including the FBI, were involved in investigating the incident, Evans said during a news conference Tuesday at the Poway Sheriff's Station.

The thieves left "a large amount of evidence" at the scene, Evans said. He declined to discuss the kind of evidence that was available or how much cash was taken.

"It will be resolved," he said regarding the case. "It's just a matter of time."

The theft likely occurred between midnight and 8 a.m. Monday, Evans said.

Evans also declined to say if law enforcement has identified any suspects.

The Santa Ysabel Casino, which opened in April 2007, belongs to the Santa Ysabel Band of Mission Indians. The casino is the smallest in the county, with only 349 slot machines and about 115 employees.

In recent years, the 900-member tribe's casino has struggled to compete with larger nearby operations, such as those on the Pala and Rincon reservations. The tribe initially agreed to pay the county for additional deputies to patrol the area but the tribe was unable to fulfill its commitment and the program was ended.

Under state law, the Sheriff's Department is responsible for investigating crimes on local reservations, including Santa Ysabel.

David Chalette, the casino manager, declined to discuss the incident.

"There was a burglary at Santa Ysabel Casino," Chalette said. "The Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation with the cooperation of the FBI and the (state) Department of Justice. I have complete confidence that these agencies will conduct a thorough investigation and I do not want to hinder the investigation by speculating on the burglary."