Trial set in COD robbery case

An eight-day trial was set for Sept. 18 after two men accused entered not guilty pleas on Tuesday to a combined 19 felonies in the robbery of the COD Casino.

Andrew Scott Toomey and Chase Aaron Henderson appeared in district court with attorneys Max Stovall and Matthew Ence.

Toomey and Henderson are each facing charges of principal to attempted murder of a peace officer, robbery with a deadly weapon, principal to firing a weapon at an occupied vehicle and five counts of kidnapping.

Henderson is also facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon, battery by a parolee on a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Both men waived their right to a speedy trial. District Judge Tod Young asked the clerk to call 150 potential jurors for the case.

The men are accused of entering the casino on Esmeralda Avenue at 4 a.m. July 14, 2024, and rounded up patrons and employees, prompting the kidnapping charges.

They took $40,000 and reportedly hopped into a blue and white PT Cruiser. According to court documents, they were pulled over by a deputy on County Road and allegedly Henderson came out shooting, firing three shots into the patrol car.

Both men are in custody, with Henderson being held on $2.5 million bail and Toomey’s bail set at $1 million. Henderson is being held on a detainer from the U.S. Marshal’s Office because he was on federal parole for robbery with a deadly weapon. He’d been out of prison for four months when the robbery occurred, according to prosecutors.