O.J. Doesn't Understand Why He's A Suspect

Las Vegas Cops Looking Into Reports That Simpson Was Involved In Armed Robbery

(AP)  O.J. Simpson said he does not understand why he is under investigation in an alleged armed robbery at a casino hotel room involving his sports memorabilia.

The former football star told The Associated Press on Friday that he went to the room to recover items stolen from him and that, despite reports, no guns were involved.

"There was no armed robbery here," Simpson said in a telephone interview. "It wasn't a robbery. They said 'Take your stuff and go."'

The incident at the Palace Station casino has once again focused attention on Simpson, who was acquitted of murdering ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman more than a decade ago. He was later found civilly liable for their deaths and ordered to pay a $33.5 million judgment.

On Thursday night, officers responded to a call from the hotel made by Alfred Beardsley, one of the men in the hotel room and a longtime collector of Simpson memorabilia. Police Capt. James Dillon said the caller told police that O.J. Simpson was involved in the robbery.

"We have (reports) from the victim that there were weapons involved," Dillon said, but added that no firearms had been recovered, no charges had been filed and no one was in custody.

Police contacted Simpson, who would not give authorities the names of the "three or four" men who accompanied him into the hotel room until his lawyer was present, Dillon said.

Authorities were trying to sort out who owned the items in dispute and had some "legitimate information that part or all of the items" belong to Simpson, Dillon said.

Simpson said he and Beardsley had a friendly phone conversation later Friday and they wanted to resolve the matter. Both indicated the underlying issue was recovery of photos from Simpson's childhood.

"Nobody was roughed up," Simpson said in the interview. "What I can't understand is these guys are in a room trying to fence stolen goods and I'm the story."

Simpson was a Heisman Trophy winner in college and a star running back in the NFL. Many of his sports collectibles, including his Heisman, were seized under court order and auctioned to pay some of the $33.5 million awarded to the Goldman family and the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson.

Now a Miami resident, O.J. Simpson lives off a sizable pension that could not be seized under the civil judgment. But last year, during a scandal over payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars for his participation in a book about the murders, he said he needed the money to get out of debt and to "secure my homestead."

Simpson said he was conducting a sting operation Thursday to collect his belongings when he was led to the room.

"We walked into the room," Simpson said. "I'm the last one to go in and when they see me, it's all 'Oh God."'

Simpson said it was auction house owner Tom Riccio who tipped him off and arranged for him to meet with collectors trying to peddle his belongings. Beardsley, however, said Riccio found out that he was going to be involved in a private sale of the childhood photos "and got Simpson all worked up."

"I will give him those pictures back, I feel bad about it," said Beardsley, adding that he and Simpson "feel this has gotten way out of control."

Riccio, meanwhile, told the Los Angeles Times that Simpson was supposed to show up and tell the men to give the belongings back or he would call the police. Instead, Simpson showed up with about seven "intimidating looking guys," at least one of whom had a gun, he said.

"We tried to peacefully reacquire these personal items, not for their monetary value, but for their family value. O.J. wanted to be able to pass these things down to his kids," Riccio told the newspaper.

"They (Simpson and his companions) took the stuff, and they left. What can I say? Things went haywire," he said.

[oj_simpson6]

RE: SamTheTVCat

In reference to "many blacks apparently thinking OJ might actually be innocent." Here''s a tidbit. Stop thinking that your rational is the only rational in the entire world. I guess it is this type of arrogance that has lead based painted toys, melamine in edible products etc. being shipped into our country. Since you seem to know what many Black are thinking. Maybe you also know how to win the wars in Iraq and afghanistan . Better yet tell me why we are really over there? Tell me what you KNOW about the JENNA-6.

Why are there numerous gods and religions. Yes ranting and expressing your opinion can be done by anyone. However intelligent thought, perception and delivery are qualities that some people have and some people just don''t. You sir are the latter.

[oj_simpson6]

People say they can''t understand why he''s walking around a free man, people can''t understand why the system did not convict him. Well the system DID NOT convict him. So just accept it like you JUST ACCEPT everything that happens to other people that is negative. You''ll fight to the death to make sure OJ goes to jail. Yet when you see and hear about other people who are WRONGLY convicted. You do nothing. You are the one''s who are murderers in your own right.

OJ had the resources to utilize the criminal justice system to his benefit. Is he Black? Is he White? That is not the issue. Or is it?

Seems like many people have no problem going back in time to say that OJ is guilty. Why don''t the same people go a little farther back in time to a point when it was perfectly fine for certain people to KILL certain other people.

The ignorance and arrogance of some of the commentators here is apparent.

Did OJ kill those two people? I believe he did. Is he guilty? Not according to the Criminal Court of the State of California.

You people will allow American sons and daughters to be slaughtered in Iraq. You will allow a "Magic Bullet" to be accepted as the only instrument in JFK''s assassination. You will allow China, Iran and Russia to dictate terms to our country. Yet for OJ Simpson (who was NOT Criminally convicted) you hypocrites will quickly stand to destroy whatever is left of him.

[astaire10]

THANK GOD this Bum has been hauled in! Here''s hoping Fred Goldman is having a Field Day with that news; here''s hoping Orenthal gets CONVICTED on ALL 5 COUNTS to the MAX! It can''t bring Nicole or Ron back, but perhaps it will make that Lying Scum sink farther into a Living Hell..Certainly that 8-foot by 3-foot cell will help!
WAY TO GO, L.V. PD!

[youragentshe]

I agree with oleander8, why is he walking around a free man? Every one knows he is a killer, it doesn''t matter that he is a black man! The only reason why the ''black glove'' didn''t fit is because he had on a protective glove underneath it!! Duh!! You can tell by the way the acts that he is guilty. He has shown no remorse over those two deaths. He acts like an idiot every time he is on the TV....he LOOKS guilty!!

[hermit22]

lets all sit for a quiet moment while oj gives his little speech on "family value".

puke bags will be provided for free.

[dixxson-2009]

If O J''s wife had been Black, there would nave been no planted gloves, no investagation!
Just a funeral! CASE CLOSED!''''

[samthetvcat]

Please research this. OJ''''s wife was not the all-American girl. She definitely was not the girl a mom would want brought home. Cute she was, classy she was not.
Posted by Misspp

Yeah, but I think because her sister is a model citizen and looks just like her, people are inclined to think that living with OJ probably drove her to self-destruct long before she got murdered.

If you''re questioning whether race has something to do with the difference, I think it does to the extent that it''s always been part of the equation...like the integrity of the police was tarnished not just because of Mark Furhman, but possibly the not guilty verdict of the cops who beat Rodney King since OJ''s trial happened in its wake. Race also plays a part in how people view the verdict, with many blacks apparently thinking OJ might actually be innocent (is that right?). However, I don''t think race plays a part in the sense that it makes people more outraged that a celebrity who is black got away with murder any more than people are by Robert Blake who is white. And if looks play a part, it''s because OJ and Nicole are so much better looking than Robert Blake and his wife imo.

Another factor might be that OJ was so much bigger an icon than Robert Blake - like he was a football giant (and look how popular sports stars are on Dancing With the Stars), he had endorsements, he was in movies, he was a sportscaster, plus he was good looking and charming... jmo though

[misspp-2009]

RE: missPP~OJ is in the news more often than Robert Blake
Posted by ssm9451 at 10:57 PM : Sep 15, 2007

You are right. But OJ is in the news because people hate him. Robert Blake is not in the news because he is not hated. WHY?

[misspp-2009]

I think the difference may have a lot to do with the women they married/murdered . . . Blake''''s wife was supposedly something of a grifter while Nicole is like the all-American girl.
Posted by SamTheTVCat at 09:29 PM : Sep 15, 2007

Please research this. OJ''s wife was not the all-American girl. She definitely was not the girl a mom would want brought home. Cute she was, classy she was not.

[dixxson-2009]

O J is not the first person persecuted in america. The folks in the Mcneil Mcmartin and other day school child molestation cases were in
shock and awe. They had to think my god this is 21st century america, someone will witness this barbaric witch hunt and save us. 20 yrs later they
were still peereing through cell bars in shock and
awe!
But you''re right but the Roberts Blakes,
and the Joan Benet Ramseys looked far guiltier
than O J ever did.
And the only reason they continued to persecute Blake a little bit is so the racism
wouldn''t be so obvious!
And they still won,t tell us what Charley
Manson actually did!

[imnho]

It seems like a certain socialpath does not understand the concept of law.

[ssm9451]

RE: missPP~OJ is in the news more often than Robert Blake

[oleander8]

He doesn''t understand why he''s a suspect? I don''t understand why he''s walking around a free man.

[afmca]

He had a good lead into Nicole''s murderer. He just went to investigate.

[samthetvcat]

9. People are ignoring Robert Blake while people hate OJ.

COME ON FOLKS! SINCE THESE CASES ARE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL, LET''''S BE EQUITABLE WITH THIS HATRED.
Posted by MissPP at 08:16 PM : Sep 15, 2007

I think the difference may have a lot to do with the women they married/murdered . . . Blake''s wife was supposedly something of a grifter while Nicole is like the all-American girl. I think people would be up for trashing Scott Peterson though if something ever got overturned on appeal . . .

They''re reporting on Geraldo that OJ worked out a deal with the guy he robbed (or who robbed him and he was trying to get his stuff back from), so the guy isn''t going to press charges/isn''t willing to testify against OJ. Like he may be escaping jail yet again . . . AND his book is #1 on Amazon and his kids get a some of the profits. Wow . . .

[rushlimpdrug]

I''m just stealin'' ma'' stuff back officer.
I''m O.J. dammit!

[misspp-2009]

Hey Folks:
Please join my foundation called "Equal Outrage". The purpose of this foundation is to express the same outrage about Robert Blake''s wife as people do about OJ''s wife. After all, the cases are virtually identical in that:
1. both married low-class women
2. both women were murdered under very suspect circumstances
3. both husbands were tried for their murders
4. both husbands were found not guilty in criminal court
5. the prosecutors in both cases were outraged and criticized the jurors
6. Experts in both cases stated that the prosecution had failed to prove its case
7. civil suits were filed against both men
8. both husbands were found liable in civil court
9. People are ignoring Robert Blake while people hate OJ.

COME ON FOLKS! SINCE THESE CASES ARE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL, LET''S BE EQUITABLE WITH THIS HATRED.

[astaire10]

DUhhhh! Maybe its because Fred Goldman had your CONFESSION published and took THAT money out of your greedy pocket JUST LAST WEEK; the TIMING is very interesting here..You''re Out with your cronies grabbing ANYTHING you can get your guilty paws on; but no matter WHERE you are and what headlines you grab, FRED is gonna be RIGHT BEHIND YOU, you MURDEROUS BUM!

[jacksteen1]

Just a minute.

HOW did this "collector" get these items...which, until now, have not gone described or inventoried at all. I read for the FIRST TIME today that there were ''childhood pictures'' of OJ among the items.

Were these items stolen from OJ - if so, where and when ? I don''t recall hearing about any burglaries at his home.

Let''s get the facts, CBS, and publish the WHOLE story.

[agnim]

What we have here is obviously a thieving collector who thinks that he can call the cops on OJ to divert attention from his larcenous ways. OJ should sue his arse.
Then the gold diggning goldman would try to collect on behalf of his wife stealing son. LOL