Interesting NL Situation in AC

[Jeffage]

So I played a little NL in AC in a smaller room when this situation came up. A large pot was contested with three players all in on a flop of 8d5d6s rainbow. All players went all in on the flop for in the neighborhood of 250 each.

The dealer ran the turn and river which were both jacks for a board of 8d5d6sJcJh. The middle all in player turned over 85s for a counterfeited two pair. The later player mucked (and his cards were properly buried) and the first player mucked but his cards were only inches from his fingers and the dealer did not quickly kill the hand. Then, a friend of the first player who was also playing in the game said, WHAT DID YOU FOLD MAN? and all of a sudden it seemed like something went off in the players mind and he quickly turned them over to reveal 9h8h for a better two pair.

Now all hell breaks loose with everyone shouting and screaming, saying he mucked and shouldn't be able to get the pot and that the other guy shouldn't make a comment and blah blah. The floor is called and seems at a genuine loss as to what to do. He says they will "go to the cameras" and "don't touch anything" and leaves the table as everyone continues to shout and argue and the dealer complained that her half hour was ruined bc of this delay.

I wasn't really sure what the cameras would show - I mean, clearly the guy mucked his hand and just as clearly, the cards were retrievable and he turned them over. So, despite the fact that in principle I think the guy deserved to lose bc he can't read the board and prob only showed bc of his friends non-specific hint, I thought there was no chance his hand would be ruled dead.

Anyway, after about 10 more minutes of this, the players talked privately and agreed to split the pot, which the floor allowed, saying it was "between them and we have nothing to do with it," yet a casino employee split the pot for them (if it was between them, why not shove it to the winner). I actually was kinda curious about what the decision would be if it would have "went to the cameras" and wouldn't have minded watching the ensuing bedlam.

Thoughts?

Jeff