Latest news with #AtlanticCityPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Jersey Man Arrested for Stealing Instruments From Heart
A New Jersey man has been charged with burglary and theft after stealing 'irreplaceable' instruments from the band Heart.. According to NBC 10 Philadelphia, the Atlantic City Police Department obtained surveillance footage of the 57-year-old Garfield Bennett from Pleasantville, NJ, trying to sell various items he had stolen from the band on the eve of their Royal Flush summer tour on May 31. More from Rolling Stone Heart Seek Return of 'Irreplaceable Instruments' Stolen From Venue Night Before Tour Heart Kick Off Rescheduled 2025 Tour This Week. Here's How to Get Tickets Before They Sell Out Chappell Roan Takes Heart's Anger and Makes It Her Own With Blistering 'Barracuda' Cover The instruments were stolen from the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel shortly after being loaded into the facility. Bennett was arrested in Atlantic City and is currently incarcerated at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Investigators believe Bennett sold one of the instruments, and are urging whoever purchased it to surrender without penalty or be arrested for receiving stolen property; it's unclear which of the instruments was sold, and what is the status of the other stolen instrument. 'If you've got the guitars, bring them back. Turn them in. No questions asked,' Atlantic City Director of Public Safety Sean Riggin said. 'If we continue looking and we have to find them, there are absolutely going to be serious criminal charges.' Heart member Nancy Wilson posted a statement on her Instagram account Wednesday pleading for the items to be returned. Bennett is accused of stealing what Nancy Wilson described as a 'custom-built, one-of-a-kind purple sparkle baritone Telecaster with a hand-painted headstock, crafted specifically for [her]' as well as a vintage 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin that band member Paul Moak has used for almost three decades. 'These instruments are more than just tools of our trade — they're extensions of our musical souls,' Nancy Wilson said in her statement. 'The baritone Tele was made uniquely for me, and Paul's mandolin has been with him for decades. We're heartbroken, and we're asking for their safe return—no questions asked. Their value to us is immeasurable.' She added, 'We are deeply grateful to the Atlantic City Police Department, the Hard Rock organization, and everyone who came together to support us in the search for our stolen instruments. The outpouring of love and concern has been overwhelming, and we are truly touched by the strength and compassion of this community.' Heart continue their tour with Todd Rungren with a concert in Vienna, Virginia. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Man arrested after guitar, mandolin belonging to the band Heart stolen from Atlantic City casino
Atlantic City police detectives were "straight on" the case after a guitar and mandolin were stolen from the band Heart before they performed at Hard Rock Atlantic City on Friday, May 30. Now, a suspect has been arrested as police look to recover the instruments. Officers were called to Hard Rock's Etess Arena on Friday for a report of the theft. They soon found surveillance video leading them to a suspect, Garfield Bennett. He was seen walking through Atlantic City and attempting to sell the instruments, police said in a news release. Bennett, a 57-year-old Pleasantville resident, was charged with burglary and theft Wednesday. He was arrested on South Kentucky Avenue. A guitar and mandolin were stolen from the Heart concert at the Hard Rock Atlantic City on May 30 and police are searching for them. Atlantic City Police Department The missing instruments are a 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin, which performer Paul Moak has played for over 25 years. The other is a six-string electric Telecaster guitar, with a purple body and a multicolored floral design on the headstock. The baritone guitar was specially made for Heart's Nancy Wilson. One of the two instruments has been sold and the whereabouts of the other are unknown. Police said anyone who possesses the stolen instruments should contact police and voluntarily surrender them — if not, they could be arrested and charged with receiving stolen property. Wilson shared that the instruments were taken after gear was set up at the venue a day prior to the show. A reward is being offered for the instruments' safe return, no questions asked. "These instruments are more than just tools of our trade — they're extensions of our musical souls," Wilson said in a statement posted on her Instagram. "We're heartbroken, and we're asking for their safe return, no questions asked. Their value to us is immeasurable." Anyone with information should contact Atlantic City police or Tony Moon (TonyMoon@ Heart postponed several shows in 2024 until this year after Ann Wilson announced she underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth and preventative chemotherapy.
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Gay bars were absent from Atlantic City for more than two decades. ByrdCage changes that.
ATLANTIC CITY — Watch out, A.C., there's a new, gay bar and restaurant in town: Welcome to ByrdCage. Before its first official weekend in business, a crowd of people poured inside the Chelsea neighborhood space for a ceremonious (and, yes, rainbow) ribbon-cutting on Friday, Jan. 24. It marks the first time in more than two decades that Atlantic City is home to a full-service, gay-owned-and-operated gay bar and restaurant space — and at a time when some would argue that a place to call "home" is needed most. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have expressed some concern about the political climate in America under a second Donald Trump administration. More:'We're still here': LGBTQ+ seniors reflect on what pride means to them "Our rights are going to be challenged for the foreseeable future," CEO Richard Helfant said. "Perhaps not since Stonewall has it been more important that this community sticks together and bands together and unifies to tell the world that here love wins all the time," he added in reference to 1969 riots in New York that galvanized the gay community. Helfant is joined in the ByrdCage venture by visionary Jason Tell and COO Giulietta Consalvo, the three business partners having worked to ensure the restaurant and club location is brimming with personality, nods to gay culture and a warm air of acceptance in spite of the frigid January cold waiting just outside. ByrdCage's partners were joined by friends and supporters at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, as well as a collection of dignitaries that included Atlantic City Mayor Marty Smalls Sr., who provided pride flags from the city to be displayed at the venue. Judah Dorrington, Atlantic City's LGBTQ+ liaison and programs and service coordinator, likened the significance of gay bars for the LGBTQ+ community to that of Black churches for the Black community. "We are able to show up at a spot, and we are able to celebrate together, co-commiserate together, plan our strategies together, and we haven't had that in Atlantic City for 20 years," Dorrington said. Members of the Atlantic City Police Department and Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office were also in attendance. The venue was officially recognized by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office as a part of their "Safe Place" program. "You know what is amazing to me," Helfant said during his speech. "Back in 1969 when the Stonewall riots happened, the cops were there beating us up. Today, the Atlantic City police are here protecting us." ByrdCage, which is located at 3426 Atlantic Ave., is a spot to peck at some brunch, to perch at the bar for happy-hour craft cocktails or spread your wings with the nightlife scene. The dual-level venue offers sit-down dining with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, plus a piano lounge. A walk up the rainbow-painted stairs takes you to where the party is, with a second-floor bar and space dedicated for entertainment such as drag shows and other themed events. Beginning Feb. 22, the space is to open for brunch Saturday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner is to be served daily from 5-9 p.m. Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at kmccormick@ And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.
