Western Australia’s top cop says detectives are on the back foot in their investigation into the Wayne Carey powdered substance incident at Perth’s Crown casino last week because gaming floor staff didn’t notify police at the time.
On Tuesday WA Police confirmed detectives were investigating the incident that saw the AFL great escorted from the casino after he dropped a bag containing a powdered substance on the gaming floor.
Wayne Carey says the white powder that fell out of his pocket at a Perth casino is not illegal.Credit:AAP
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch told Perth radio station 6PR Crown should have contacted police at the time because, without possession of the substance, detectives could not determine what it was.
“We’ll make an assessment from [the CCTV] but, obviously, we’re on the back foot from the beginning because we didn’t have the initial complaint at the time it occurred, which would have been my preference,” he said.
“I can’t speak directly to the decisions made at the time that occurred, but if there was any suspicion by any person that there were drugs possessed or drugs obtained or was in the possession of authorities down at Crown, I would have expected a phone call to police to manage that matter.”
Carey, 51, has been barred from all Crown venues for two years following the incident.
However, he met with his lawyer on Tuesday and is expected to demand an apology from the Perth casino.
A source close to Carey, who did not wish to be identified, told The Age his main concern was not the suspension but the assumption by the casino that the substance that fell out of his pocket while he was at a gambling table was illegal.
On Monday Carey said the bag contained the anti-inflammatory medication Aleve, which he took for pain.
“It was not an illegal substance, it was offered to security. Security didn’t take it,” Carey, 51, told The Age on Monday night.
“They just said it’s not a great look, I understood that, and we left without incident.”
Carey will be absent from this weekend’s commentary team on Channel 7 for this weekend’s finals games. He is also a contributing columnist for The Age.
On Monday, a Crown spokeswoman said the incident was handled within its standard procedures.
“As trained professionals, our employees are entrusted to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for customers and staff at all times, and will take necessary action to ensure these policies are abided by,” she said.
Crown were contacted for further comment.
