Slot Machines Clatter On Around Heart Attack Victim

The body of a heart attack victim lay on the floor of the Spirit Mountain Casino for two hours awaiting a medical examiner while people continued to play the slot machines nearby.

“We shut down some tables and machines in the immediate area to close it off to the public,” said Chuck Galford, marketing director for the casino.

Arthur W. Mooney, 67, collapsed while playing the slots Saturday afternoon.

Paramedics could not revive him. He was declared dead about 12:30 p.m., according to Polk County Deputy Jeff Van Laanen, who was at the scene.

Mooney’s wife, Louise, said Sunday that casino officials were helpful and summoned a priest for her while she waited. She was distressed, though, that the body could not be removed from the casino floor without the medical examiner’s release and that it took him so long to arrive.

Van Laanen said he was unable to reach Mooney’s family doctor. Barring that, state law prevented him from allowing the body to be removed without the approval of the Polk County district attorney and medical examiner.

Polk County uses local physicians as medical examiners on a rotating schedule. On Saturday, Dr. Mark Corey had to drive to Grande Ronde from Dallas.