An Indiana woman, aged 42, has been apprehended and charged with felony robbery after casino surveillance footage recorded her allegedly threatening an 88-year-old woman on July 5 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson.

In the case of Indiana v. Andrea Smith, state officials claim that Smith scouted the parking area of the Caesars Entertainment-operated racino before zeroing in on the elderly woman, who was accompanied by her daughter. The probable cause affidavit, submitted to Madison County’s Circuit Court, states that Smith approached the two women and demanded the elder woman hand over her purse.

NBC13 indicates that the affidavit elaborates that Smith threatened both women with a firearm.

“I will use it. I will kill you,” Smith reportedly threatened.

A struggle ensued as Smith attempted to take the purse from the elderly woman. Fortunately, the 88-year-old and her daughter managed to fend off Smith. Surveillance footage from the casino captured Smith fleeing to her vehicle after the altercation.

Court documents identify Smith as a Black woman, standing 5’7” tall and weighing 180 pounds.

Law Enforcement Identifies the Suspect

Thanks to Harrah’s surveillance video, authorities quickly identified that Smith fled in a silver Chevrolet Malibu. Although the license plate was not captured, investigators observed that her fuel tank was missing a cover.

With local law enforcement on high alert for the vehicle, Smith was located and arrested on July 18 during a traffic stop. Her physical description matched that of the suspect in the casino cameras.

Smith is facing charges for fifth-degree robbery. If found guilty, she could face a maximum of six years in prison and fines amounting to $10,000.

State prosecutors are pursuing habitual offender status for Smith, having filed a notice of intent with the court on July 27. This designation, applicable to individuals with at least two prior unrelated felony convictions, could lead to substantial sentence increases.

Official records indicate that Smith had been stopped by law enforcement just hours prior to the attempted robbery at Harrah’s. During that stop, she received a traffic citation for an improper turn and failure to obey a traffic signal.

The officer who conducted the stop observed a firearm inside Smith’s vehicle. Court documents reveal that Smith has an outstanding amount of $210.50 for this incident, which includes a $71 fine and $139.50 in filing fees.

About Harrah’s Hoosier Park

Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino is a prominent standardbred horse racetrack and racino located about 30 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The facility hosts 160 live racing events annually.

Spanning 86,100 square feet, the casino features 1,250 slot machines, 40 table games, and a Caesars Sportsbook.