Vegas Police Defend Paris Hilton's Quick Release From Jail

LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas police are defending Paris Hilton's quick release from jail after her Aug. 27 arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession, saying they wanted to avoid disruptions in the jail's operations.

Hilton was out of the jail in about three hours, roughly half the average time it takes to process people facing the same charge through the Clark County Detention Center, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Jim Dixon, who runs the jail, acknowledged Hilton was pushed through the booking process to get her into a separate room and out of the jail as soon as possible.

He noted a crowd of about 100 people gathered outside the Wynn Las Vegas resort to snap photos and shoot video of Hilton while her boyfriend, Cy Waits, was pulled over and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

"Yeah, she was treated differently so I don't have a disruption of my process here at the county jail," Dixon told the Review-Journal. "When you bring somebody in like that, everybody comes over and tries to look at them. I'd have officers attempting to keep inmates away from her. I'd have disruptions."

Because of overcrowding, Hilton presented a major problem for jailers, Dixon added.

"She was moved along out of the general area and put in isolation where nobody can actually get to her. ... As soon as (her release on her own recognizance) was pushed through, she was kicked out," he said.

Jessica Murray of Bob's Bail Bonds said she was bothered by Hilton's rapid release. Murray, whose clients are mostly "working girls" arrested for nonviolent soliciting or trespassing, said the average booking time on those charges is four to 12 hours, followed by another four to 12 hours until release.

"I could understand putting her in a separate room. But I don't understand putting her above everyone else," Murray said. "If you're alleged to commit a crime, you get treated like everybody else."

But Tony Collins of 911 Bail Bonds said he understood why Hilton was treated differently.

"If she had gotten out in 30 minutes, that would have been special treatment," he said.

Hilton, 29, was charged with one felony count of cocaine possession after authorities say she opened a purse in front of a police lieutenant and a small baggie of cocaine fell out. Hilton claims neither the purse nor the cocaine was hers.

She's scheduled to appear before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure on Oct. 27.

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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com

Comments

[Metacarius]

11:06 AM on 09/07/2010

I actually don't blame the officers for this one. I blame the media. They've turned Hilton into a star that everybody MUST see and the cops still have a jail to run. If she's not staying around anyway, get her out and avoid the chaos and disruption of keeping her in the jail. They let her go, not because of who she is, but because what she is causes problems.

[gabbyhayes23]

09:58 AM on 09/07/2010

How many strikes is it now for this poor little rich Girl? I wonder what would've happened to her if her name is not Hilton the heiress. American Justice at its best!!!

[Bobzmcishl]

09:40 AM on 09/07/2010

Why was she arrested in the first place? A waste of time to go after minor drug offenders. And I thought Vegas was "Sin City". They are going to lose that reputation.

[roblabrousse]

09:39 AM on 09/07/2010

This girl ought to go into living a private life. She's lost that glam factor and she's losing her looks fast.

[AverageJose007]

09:31 AM on 09/07/2010

Well Mr. Sherri f, you think if she was treated like everybody else she may catch on. A good Arse wuppin' may have done her some good.

[thewirah]

09:26 AM on 09/07/2010

You have to be kidding me!?! Does that mean that there are two kinds of justice in this World?

[american-dolt]

09:21 AM on 09/07/2010

United States of Corruption

[Tennys Daughter]

09:11 AM on 09/07/2010

The few, the proud, the Hiltons. "They do what thou wilt"

[garymc8]

09:03 AM on 09/07/2010

I guess the rich don't have to go to prison only the ppor. Welcome to the new AmeriKKKa, run bu the PATHOLOGICAL LIAR PARTY OF THE RICH

[RichieB56]

09:01 AM on 09/07/2010

I am sure the nice wad of cash that was pressed into their hands had something to do with it.

[sphlouge]

09:00 AM on 09/07/2010

Here we are again , same old story. Rich Bi### get out easy. Out of work person gets bad treatment , locked up and key thrown away. If you believe there is justice for ALL , think again.
There is, and always has been TWO types of justice in this country.One for the rich and privileged and one for the average guy or woman. I love all the flag waving and comments about our forefathers who wrote the laws and stood up for equal rights for all. Music in the background , etc. Well wake up America, It all smoke and mirrors . We are a two class system. The rich and above the law and the average person who works for a living and pays dearly for so much as a parking ticket. This will NEVER change, never.

[caughtya]

08:58 AM on 09/07/2010

she was pushed through the system in half the time and treated with a lot more TLC than the homeless black or hispanic mom with two kids would have been

[fumes]

08:51 AM on 09/07/2010

next up.. let's catch her with shrooms!

Magic Mushrooms Reduce Anxiety Over Cancer
21:00 06 September 2010 by Jessica Griggs:
The active ingredient of magic mushrooms, psilocybin, has been shown to reduce anxiety and improve mood in people with cancer. Charles Grob from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California, and colleagues, recruited 12 people with advanced-stage cancer who also suffered from anxiety. Journal reference: Archives of General Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.116
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19405-magic-mushrooms-reduce-anxiety-over-cancer.html

[fumes]

08:49 AM on 09/07/2010

~tax dollars @ work..

[roshni]

08:45 AM on 09/07/2010

She has a good schtick going - famous because she is rich, rich because she is famous and granted special privileges because she is both....