Police Bust Gambling House
Feb 24, 2006, 11:15 PM EST Police Raid Gambling Operation
The cover is blown on a gambling operation on the south west side that may involve teenagers. Authorities say they don't plan to make an arrest, but they're out to get answers.
Investigators were tipped off, after an anonymous letter came into the sheriff's department earlier Friday, and from the looks of things, authorities moved quickly.
They did take one man into custody, but only to question him, and then release him.
Undercover investigators rolled out several poker tables, emptying out a chunk of the building. The Covert Operations Section of the Marion County Sheriff's Department received a tip about illegal gambling there.
When the first investigator arriived, only one man was inside, authorities say, preparing for a big event.
"Could we come inside, and he said sure," said Lt. Bill Lorah of the Marion County Sheriff's Department. Lorah says he was secretive at first and shut the door behind him, but then turned very cooperative.
Investigators packed the truck with poker tables, chairs, television sets, everything inside, hoping to find any evidence linking them to others involved.
Investigators are worried that young adults, possibly teenagers, are involved. "When you have younger adults spending money that's been saved for college, or you have children that don't have milk money or diaper money because mom or dad are coming here and gambling the money or losing the money, that's a big concern," says Captain Chris Heffner of the Marion County Sheriff's Department.
Ruth Plant works within view of the so-called gambling house. "I mean this is a business community and everyone is just running their business day to day," Plant says.
Investigators found drawing boards inside, stacks of cards, and flyers indicating big gambling events happen here.
"I think it kind of brings on a seedy side of activities and we certainly don't want that here," Plant says, "And when I think of young people involved it really bothers me."
Investigators say the suspect was preparing for a 6:00 gambling party. The raid was at 4.
They confiscated grease boards that indicate pay-offs and pay-outs.
At this point the suspect is facing felony charges of promoting professional gambling in Indiana. But several more could come out.
You may remember 24 Hour News 8 looked into teen poker parties back in November. At that time, we found that problem gambling experts say 80% of young players will never have a gambling problem, 15% may develop some issues, and 5% will become addicted.