Cops Eye O.J. In Memorabilia Rip-Off

Simpson A Suspect In Casino Robbery; He Calls It "Sting Operation" To Reclaim Sports Items

(CBS/AP)  Investigators questioned O.J. Simpson and named him a suspect Friday in a confrontation involving sports memorabilia in a casino hotel room. The former football star said he went to the room to retrieve property that was stolen from him, and denied breaking in.

Several victims claim a group which included Simpson broke into their hotel room and stole some sports memorabilia. A short time later, Las Vegas investigators picked up and questioned the notorious former football star. Reports say he told police the items were his, reports CBS News correspondent Karen Brown.

In a press conference, Las Vegas Metro Police Capt. James Dillon said the confrontation was reported as an armed robbery, but stressed that "this is very preliminary." He said the victim reported that weapons were involved, but the police have not recovered any weapons or determined what they could be.

In addition, Dillon said the police have some still images and video to use as evidence, but cannot yet say what has been captured.

"We truly are in the infancy of this investigation," he told reporters.

Dillon said police expect to interview Simpson more fully within the next 24 to 72 hours. The former Buffalo Bills running back was initially contacted by patrol officers at a Las Vegas hotel and has not resisted cooperation, Dillon said. "There was no hesitation on his part to cooperate and to immediately meet with police," Dillon said.

Simpson told The Associated Press auction house owner Tom Riccio called him several weeks ago to say some collectors "have a lot of your stuff and they don't want anyone to know they are selling it."

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Photos: O.J. Once More

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Simpson, who was in Las Vegas for a friend's wedding, said he arranged to meet Riccio at the hotel and conducted a "sting operation."

"Everybody knows this is stolen stuff," Simpson said. "Not only wasn't there a break-in, but Riccio came to the lobby and escorted us up to the room. In any event, it's stolen stuff that's mine. Nobody was roughed up."

A message left for Riccio was not immediately returned.

Investigators were reviewing a complaint of a break-in at the hotel late Thursday night, police spokesman Jose Montoya said.

"When they talked to him, Simpson made the comment that he believed the memorabilia was his," Montoya said. "We're getting conflicting stories from the two sides."

Simpson is considered a suspect in the case, Montoya said. He was released after he and several associates were questioned, and he remained in Las Vegas.

"We don't believe he's going anywhere," Montoya said.

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Photos: Murder In Brentwood

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The Heisman Trophy winner, ex-NFL star and actor, was in Las Vegas to promote his controversial book, "If I Did It," which was released Thursday, reports Brown.

The Heisman Trophy winner, ex-NFL star and actor lives near Miami and has been a tabloid staple since his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges, but a jury later held him liable for the killings in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Simpson has had to auction off his sports collectibles, including his Heisman Trophy, to pay some of the $33.5 million judgment awarded in the civil trial.

On Thursday, the Goldman family published a book about the killings that Simpson had written under the title, "If I Did It," about how he would have committed the crime had he actually done it. After a deal for Simpson to publish it fell through, a federal bankruptcy judge awarded the book's rights to the Goldman family, who retitled it "If I Did It: The Confessions of a Killer."

Fred Goldman, Ron's Goldman's father, defended the family's decision to publish the book. He noted Simpson's penchant for breaking headlines.

"He brings attention to himself every time we turn around and he will continue to do that forever," Goldman said Friday on NBC's "Today Show."

The Las Vegas district attorney's office will decide whether to pursue charges in the casino case, but had not received police paperwork by Friday morning, an office assistant said.

Simpson had been scheduled to give a deposition Friday in Miami in a bankruptcy case involving his eldest daughter. But it was rescheduled because Simpson had told attorneys that he would be out of town.

The Palace Station, an aging property just west of the Las Vegas Strip, is one of several Station Casinos-owned resorts that cater to locals. The 1,000-room hotel-casino, with a 21-story tower and adjacent buildings, opened in 1976.

A company spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment.

[hermit22]

gabbysmomrs, what was the deal with the daughter calling the police because she was afraid of her dad? which daughter? why? when?

brianbwb, what evidence do you have that the jury was made up of "12 rational people"?

[gabbysmomrs]

It is Sunday morning and the media is reporting OJ has spoken with one of the victims. OJ says he and the victim agreed it wasn''t a break-in and that no charges would be pressed. OJ strikes again. The media has yet to talk to another victim. I sure hope this one can''t be bought off (or charmed nearly to death). I wouldn''t be surprised to hear next that OJ was invited in, served expensive wine, then was begged to take back everything. This man is a double-murderer who has walked away from those crimes. If he can walk away from that, along with a road rage incident, a charge of domestic violence and his daughter calling the police because she is afraid of her dad and writing a book telling just how he committed the murders, all since he was acquitted of those, he must believe he is invincible. For that matter, he may be. How is it that this man can walk among us?

[likeitis5050]

OJ is untouchable...why can''t everyone accept that fact? He can''t be tried again even if he stands up and says, "Hey...dumba..ss.es...I killed both of them!" He has dodged every attempt to make him abide by any court order he doesn''t feel like obeying. He grins and smirks and stands defiantly in the face of criticism. This is either an innocent man (I intend to find the person who killed my wife..) or a sociopath who has beaten the system. Either way...he is made of Teflon and nothing sticks. Until he is forced to obey what ever judgments are given to him, he just proves how untouchable he really is to anyone who still cares. But it%u2019s good to remember, he couldn%u2019t have done any of the stuff he has gotten away with without help.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by justfacts2,

Your point is quite possible, but it is also quite possible that he did not kill his ex, as the prosecutors failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt. Since I was not witness to the crimes, I cannot claim to know the facts.

My point is I take the jury''s verdict then as the finding of 12 rational people, as far as criminal law he is not guilty.

But knowing that most of the public doesn''t accept the jury''s findings, it seems ridiculously risky to be personally involved in a robbery, knowing that the drop of a pin will cause a mountain of law and hate to fall on him, if he would desire such items he would have done better by hiring the robbers, and staying as far away from the scene as possible. Even an uneducated thug would know this, and I do not believe he is actually dumb, one can''t accomplish what he has by being dumb.

It all seems so strange...

[hermit22]

he stole the mother
away from his children.
he stole nicole''s life.
he stole ron''s life.

now he quibbles about his
old junk.

he shudda stayed home
and helped his daughter.
if he gets locked up this time
maybe it will be a mercy to his kids.

[creeper00]

"RELAX...you are in Showbuzz, so what did you think, that it was world news?"

As a matter of fact, this is the lead story on the CBSNews.com website...and has been all day.

It''s pathetic that valuable traditional news media space is squandered on this piece of vermin.

[questionnews]

What will he do for a lawyer? Dig up Johnny Cochran? Somehow I don''t expect a team of high dollar attorneys will be coming to save him again. Without money he will get the same justice that the average person would get. I wonder if he will spend any jail time if convicted and if so, will it be in the general population or his own special cell.

[avigil2]

Oprah would NEVER have OJ on her show. And she refuses to read the book.

[smithtyler2]

I wish this egotistical maniac would just do away with himself; I''m sure finding a weapon to do it with would not be a problem for him (knife?)

[asor1-2009]

Whiner Thief Fraud

[phil-in-fin]

Can''t wait to see OJ on Oprah trying to explain this one ...

[lars008-2009]

and this breaking on drudge...

KFI''s John Ziegler quotes alleged victim, Alfred Beardsley: "O.J. told me, ''If this happened in L.A. you''d be dead already''"... MORE... "They were black goons, a bunch of gang-bangers. Two of them had guns drawn. They took a bunch of game balls, awards that he had won. Over 200 signed photos. And by accident took a bunch of Joe Montana memorabilia." Developing...

[biker-n-oh]

Mr. Simpson do you wish to enter a plea?

Yes, your honor "absolutely, 100% NOT GUILTY"

[marcodele]

Let''s hope his arrogance eventually puts him behind bars. Then let''s give him enough rope...

[edward1975-2009]

Guy gets away with murder(s), you would think he would stay out of the headlines. Guess he''s starved for attention. What an idiot, but don''t worry the two stooges Jackson and Sharpton will show up and claim it''s racial. We know how credible and above water those two are, what a joke.

[wadyaknow]

Why doesn''t he conduct a sting operation to find the "real killer". Anyhow, if this memorabilia was his it wouldn''t be his anyway but would belong to the Goldmans and the Browns.

[lars008-2009]

oj stung by what he claims is a sting operation... hahahahaha

[samthetvcat]

Maybe he should hook-up with Britney Spears
Posted by jennasmith2 at 02:57 PM : Sep 14, 2007

Better yet, Mary Winkler . . .

[gwagener]

Texas468 wrote:
William Tango Foxtrot......

It''s Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

[texas468]

William Tango Foxtrot......