The Dallas Police Department continues its crackdown on illegal gambling … busting a poker game at the Audie Murphy VFW Post 1837 just several hours ago. There were reportedly seven full tables running when nearly 20 police officers entered the room. It was the vice squad this time, not the SWAT team … though some undercover player-officers were donning black hoods, face masks, and sunglasses to keep their identity sealed — one of whom responded to the name \”Curtis.\”
No official numbers yet on tickets, arrests, and money seized … but it\’s looking to be about 70 players issued gambling citations, and a dozen employees handcuffed and taken to jail[UPDATE: It appears they, too, may have just been ticketed] for \”keeping a gambling place.\” According to Deputy Chief (Vice and Narcotics) J.A. Bernal, most of the alleged poker criminals \”appeared to be hardworking, normal citizens; average everyday working joes. That\’s what we found here today.\”
Tonight\’s VFW bust comes after an attempted armed robbery at one Dallas room Friday night as police were reportedly raiding other poker rooms (including the Island Club and new Top Shelf). DPD tells Pokerati they also hit a couple 8-liner joints Friday … and that more gambling raids are to come.
Meanwhile, legislators in Austin are considering a bill to legalize some semblance of poker games similar to the one taking place at the VFW. Several state and local politicians support this bill ([tag]HB 3186[/tag]) … presumably as an example of sensible government … including Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins, whose office now has at least another 100 poker-related misdemeanors added to it\’s caseload.
Police, of course, are kinda in a bind. They say this bust (like most others) was in response to a \”citizen complaint\” … and they are right when they say they are obligated to respond. Likewise, the DA has to prosecute — even if he doesn\’t agree with the law. As a result of everyone simply trying to do their job in accordance with laws that may be outdated but are still on the books …. it becomes a simple question of resource allocation for both the cops and the courts in a city that has the highest violent crime rate in the nation. Frustrating, to be sure.
When Pokerati arrived on the scene, all the players were gone, but there were a few marked police cars, and cops were loading up the official DPD U-haul with chips and tables … Inside, eight or nine peace officers in dark, wrap-around sunglasses (and a few wearing black ninja-style face masks) corralled around the main table like, er, poker players … counting money and pushing stacks around as they took inventory. At the same time, two fatter balder older officers (perhaps from another agency) were sitting back in the cage, watching over the action on the table and waiting for it to finish.
Personally, I had no idea there was such a good 1-2-5 game so close to my house. I soo woulda played here had I known. This VFW is attached to a (licensed) bar and pool hall, too, where tonight a rhythm and blues band was playing — sorry, In’t remember the name … Lead and Love Something Movement or Machine Something. The Motowny musicians\’ show was cut short by the raid, yet they were unable to leave because the police van was blocking their exit as officers continued to load up the evidence and officially shut down the game.
