A pastor in Las Vegas has been arrested by Metro police after being found with guns and drugs in a hotel room. This incident initially caused a counter-terrorism response, according to the 8 News Now Investigators.
A 61-year-old man named David McGee has been arrested at the Strat Hotel Casino & Tower on charges related to drugs and firearms, according to records. McGee served as the senior pastor at The Bridge Fellowship, located just outside Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Despite the closure of its physical location in 2023, the evangelical ministry has adapted to the digital age and now operates primarily online and through radio programs.
According to documents, on August 20th, detectives specializing in drug and counter-terrorism investigations were called to a hotel after McGee reported a missing item. According to the police report, McGee stated that he had traveled to Las Vegas all the way from North Carolina in a private jet, with the sole purpose of reuniting with his daughter.
According to documents, when officers inquired about any weapons in McGee’s room, he openly admitted to having a gun in his guitar case. McGee had been cautioned by hotel staff about the policy following an incident where he reportedly brought a shotgun to his room a few days ago.
According to documents, the presence of firearms, including an AR-15 with a scope, led responding officers to suspect that McGee may have been planning a shooting similar to the one that occurred on October 1st. Following the tragic mass shooting in 2017, the Metro police have been actively looking into cases involving the discovery of multiple firearms in hotels along the Las Vegas Strip, deeming them as suspicious situations.
Following McGee’s arrest, there were inaccurate social media posts suggesting that the police had responded to a hotel due to a failed terror plot. Metro police have issued a news release stating that the information is incorrect.
Authorities discovered suspected fentanyl pills and powder inside the hotel room, according to police.
According to documents, McGee informed the detective that he had transported the fentanyl from North Carolina to Las Vegas on his private jet and had paid around $1,000 for it. “According to McGee, he admitted to using fentanyl and expressed his intention to share it with his daughter once he finds her.”
McGee was not photographed by metro police upon his arrival at the Clark County Detention Center. The 8 News Now Investigators have made multiple attempts to reach out to McGee and his wife for comment.