An 82-year-old Army veteran is suing Encore Boston Harbor and several law enforcement agencies in federal court, claiming he was wrongly detained after a casino security alarm was triggered by medical implants in his leg.
82-Year-Old Veteran Accuses Encore Casino of Wrongful Detention
Robert M. Joost filed the civil rights complaint in US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on July 9, 2026. The case names the Everett Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, unnamed officers and Encore Boston Harbor as defendants. Joost is suing for damages, claiming false imprisonment, civil rights violations, negligence and emotional distress.
The lawsuit centers on an incident that allegedly took place on May 30, 2026, when Joost visited Encore Boston Harbor. He had been a frequent visitor to the casino since it opened in 2019 and had not had problems during security checks before, the complaint said.
Joost said a security screening system went off when he entered the casino. He said the alert had been caused by metal rods that had been implanted in his hip and upper leg after surgery. The veteran also says he carries medical equipment for other medical issues.
Joost said he was told to get further screening, but he got frustrated and decided to leave the property. He walked outside and tried to board an Encore shuttle, but casino security and police stopped him before he could leave, the complaint states.
Joost Alleges Encore Incident Resulted in Ban and Emotional Distress
According to the lawsuit, officers told Joost that the security system had detected something that appeared to be a firearm. Joost denied he was carrying a weapon and suggested the alert could have been triggered by his medical implants or other items related to his health condition.
Joost says officers surrounded him and did not let him leave while they investigated. He says he asked to go several times but was told to stay while police completed their checks. According to the complaint, his identification was checked, and he was released about 15 minutes later. He was neither arrested nor charged.
After the encounter, Joost says casino security told him he was no longer allowed to enter Encore Boston Harbor. The suit says he was told to leave the property immediately, rather than waiting for another shuttle.
The veteran claims the incident led to humiliation and emotional distress. He is seeking damages and a declaration that his rights were violated. Joost also demanded a jury trial.
The suit was assigned to US District Judge Allison D. Burroughs in Massachusetts. The Everett Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and Encore Boston Harbor have not commented publicly on the allegations.