Arrest made at Bellagio fountain after swim stops water show
Manuel Acevedo-Gutierrez. The 39-year-old man was arrested Thursday, after swimming out to the Bellagio fountain on the Las Vegas Strip, briefly stopping the famous water show and damaging the fountain. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP)
LAS VEGAS » A water rescue at the Las Vegas Strip’s iconic Bellagio fountain led to one man’s arrest.
Las Vegas police say 39-year-old Manuel Acevedo-Gutierrez climbed over walls and swam to the fountain jets around 9 p.m. Thursday. The 8.5-acre man-made lake is 7 feet deep on average and 14 feet at its deepest point.
The man, a transient, was arrested Thursday and faces misdemeanor trespassing and felony property damage charges.
A police report says officers heard Acevedo-Gutierrez yelling as he stood on fountain equipment pulling lights and spouts. Officers used an inflatable boat and swam to reach the man to arrest him.
Bellagio officials estimated at least $5,500 in damage.
A spokeswoman says the shows resumed and minor repairs were made.
It was not immediately clear if Acevedo-Gutierrez had a lawyer.
