Fireworks Explosion in Rivers Casino Toilet Leads to Criminal Charges for Pennsylvania Man

^{Jeremy Allen Hartman and the toilet he allegedly destroyed at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. This clearly is not the way to compete for a Casinos.com Royal Flush Award. (Photos: Rivers Casino / Pennsylvania State Police / Casinos.com)}

Pennsylvania State Police have charged a man with multiple crimes after officials say he lit a commercial-grade firework inside a toilet at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh.

Jeremy Allen Hartman of Martinsburg, PA stands charged of risking a catastrophe, arson, theft, criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person, and receiving stolen property, according to police.

Suspect Lit Firework After Attempted Restaurant Theft

The incident began early on the morning of June 8. At around 5:40 am, casino security took Hartman into custody after he was found trespassing in a closed restaurant area, where he was allegedly attempting to steal bottles of alcohol valued at as much as $4,000. 

Security personnel then proceeded to escort Hartman to a secure holding area in the casino. During that process, Hartman requested to use a restroom, which the security team allowed. While in an employee restroom, he allegedly lit a commercial-grade firework before placing it inside a toilet, where it exploded. The explosion reportedly resulted in minor injuries to one casino employee who was in the bathroom.

That led police to obtain a search warrant on a vehicle registered to Harman, which was parked on the fifth floor of the casino’s parking garage. While executing that warrant, police found more fireworks inside the vehicle.

That led to calling in the Pittsburgh Police Bomb Squad and K-9 Unit. After a thorough sweep of the vehicle, police confirmed that there were no explosives. Those teams also searched the casino, finding that it was also clear of explosive devices. 

“Early Sunday morning, an individual who caused a disturbance and vandalized property at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh was apprehended by security and arrested by the police,” a casino spokesperson said later that day. “We are cooperating fully with the authorities as they investigate the incident.”

Hartman’s preliminary hearing on the case has yet to be scheduled, according to court records.

History of Explosive Threats at Casinos

While this incident may have been confined to fireworks, other casinos have had to deal with more serious explosives in the past.

Last October, the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa partially evacuated its resort after two crude explosive devices were found on the property. Police were able to deactivate and remove those explosives without incident. In the summer of 2024, both the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City and the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California were the subject of bomb threats, though no devices were found.

Other cases have led to more severe consequences. In 1980, a group of men planted a bomb containing 1,200 pounds of dynamite at Harvey’s Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada. Attempts to disarm the bomb failed, with an explosion causing $18 million in damages, but no injuries. 

Rivers Casino has also dealt with some less explosive controversies in its recent past. Multiple employees and players at the resort were charged with cheating at an electronic roulette game earlier this year, with employees validating what should have been invalid spins in order to let players win.

In May, Casinos.com introduced the Royal Flush Awards, which sought out the best toilets in Las Vegas. The first of this annual award, part of the International Casino Awards, went to the Cosmopolitan.