cedricbenson
10-30-2005, 05:30 PM
Unlike the idiots who run EP, the folks in Del Rio have people who are brave enough to close down the illegal maquinitas:
Pope: We will close you down!
By Karen Gleason
Del Rio News-Herald
Published October 30, 2005
The sheriff’s office chief investigator said he hopes Friday’s raids on two local game rooms will send a clear message to remaining “eight-liner” operators: it’s closing time – permanently.
“There are three other eight-liner establishments operating in Del Rio that I’m aware of,” said Lt. Larry Pope, who heads the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office criminal investigations division, “The sheriff and the chief of police said to shut these places down, and we plan on closing them the same way we closed these two on Friday.”
Pope led sheriff’s deputies and Del Rio Police Department officers into the San Felipe Game Room, 104 Dr. Fermin Calderon Blvd., while VVSO Sgt. James “Mac” McGonagill headed a similar operation across town at the Monte Carlo Game Room in La Villita Shopping Center, Suite 23B.
The two raids, carried out simultaneously, came after months of undercover work by deputies in the two game rooms, Pope said in an interview early Saturday.
Arrested in the Friday afternoon raids were Harold Dee Hall, who lives in Del Rio, but whose driver’s license lists a Carlsbad, Texas residence; Berta Lara Patiño and Sandra Orozco Lascano, both of Del Rio.
Pope said he still anticipates at least one more arrest in the case.
Pope said Saturday that Hall has been charged with two counts each on the following four offenses: gambling, gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place and possession of gambling device, equipment or paraphernalia.
Pope said Patiño and Lascano were charged with one count each of gambling, gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place and possession of gambling device, equipment or paraphernalia.
Bonds on the three were set at $1,000 per charge, a total of $8,000 on Hall and $4,000 on each of the women.
The dozen or so patrons caught in the raids were all issued citations.
Pope said the raids became a joint venture of the sheriff’s office and the police department.
DRPD Capt. John Lissner, who heads the police department criminal investigations division, said, “Larry asked us if we would help him, and we told him we’d do whatever he needed us to do.”
Lissner’s detectives and members of the DRPD’s 1600 patrol shift assisted in the raids at both locations, securing the businesses and assisting in the identification of patrons and cataloging of evidence.
At the time of the raid, a handwritten sign on the front door of the San Felipe Game Room advised patrons: “No one under 18 years of age allowed inside game room – We Do Not Pay Cash – “No Need To Ask” – Re-plays Only!”
“That’s what the sign says,” Pope said. “They pay cash. They’re just selective about who they pay it to, and it doesn’t matter if they pay cash or not, it’s still illegal.”
Another small handwritten sign informed patrons that the game room is “open 24 hours Friday-Saturday Sunday” and is signed, “H. Hall.”
Pope said Saturday about 50 eight-liner machines were confiscated from the two game rooms. Other items removed by deputies and police included a slow cooker, roasting pan, two refrigerators, ice machine, money counters, a safe and two automatic teller machines.
Pope said he also seized about $7,000 cash and took all the paperwork in both offices into evidence.
Pope said the investigation that led to Friday’s raids on the Monte Carlo and the San Felipe game rooms began shortly after deputies and police raided the Golden Lady Amusement Center, 1609 Ave. G, in mid-January.
Asked what harm there was in allowing “eight-liner” establishments to stay open, Pope said, “First off, it’s against state law. Second off, it becomes addictive to people, and they spend more than they should. We have talked to people whose kids don’t have school supplies because mom spent the money on eight-liners.”
He added, “Some people do drugs, and you could ask, what’s the harm in drugs? The drug dealer wants to sell drugs and the buyer wants to buy them. What’s the harm in prostitution?”
“Gamblers want to gamble, and the casino or game room wants to furnish the opportunity. Some gambling is controlled and regulated. This is uncontrolled, unregulated, illegal gambling,” Pope said.
Pope: We will close you down!
By Karen Gleason
Del Rio News-Herald
Published October 30, 2005
The sheriff’s office chief investigator said he hopes Friday’s raids on two local game rooms will send a clear message to remaining “eight-liner” operators: it’s closing time – permanently.
“There are three other eight-liner establishments operating in Del Rio that I’m aware of,” said Lt. Larry Pope, who heads the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office criminal investigations division, “The sheriff and the chief of police said to shut these places down, and we plan on closing them the same way we closed these two on Friday.”
Pope led sheriff’s deputies and Del Rio Police Department officers into the San Felipe Game Room, 104 Dr. Fermin Calderon Blvd., while VVSO Sgt. James “Mac” McGonagill headed a similar operation across town at the Monte Carlo Game Room in La Villita Shopping Center, Suite 23B.
The two raids, carried out simultaneously, came after months of undercover work by deputies in the two game rooms, Pope said in an interview early Saturday.
Arrested in the Friday afternoon raids were Harold Dee Hall, who lives in Del Rio, but whose driver’s license lists a Carlsbad, Texas residence; Berta Lara Patiño and Sandra Orozco Lascano, both of Del Rio.
Pope said he still anticipates at least one more arrest in the case.
Pope said Saturday that Hall has been charged with two counts each on the following four offenses: gambling, gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place and possession of gambling device, equipment or paraphernalia.
Pope said Patiño and Lascano were charged with one count each of gambling, gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place and possession of gambling device, equipment or paraphernalia.
Bonds on the three were set at $1,000 per charge, a total of $8,000 on Hall and $4,000 on each of the women.
The dozen or so patrons caught in the raids were all issued citations.
Pope said the raids became a joint venture of the sheriff’s office and the police department.
DRPD Capt. John Lissner, who heads the police department criminal investigations division, said, “Larry asked us if we would help him, and we told him we’d do whatever he needed us to do.”
Lissner’s detectives and members of the DRPD’s 1600 patrol shift assisted in the raids at both locations, securing the businesses and assisting in the identification of patrons and cataloging of evidence.
At the time of the raid, a handwritten sign on the front door of the San Felipe Game Room advised patrons: “No one under 18 years of age allowed inside game room – We Do Not Pay Cash – “No Need To Ask” – Re-plays Only!”
“That’s what the sign says,” Pope said. “They pay cash. They’re just selective about who they pay it to, and it doesn’t matter if they pay cash or not, it’s still illegal.”
Another small handwritten sign informed patrons that the game room is “open 24 hours Friday-Saturday Sunday” and is signed, “H. Hall.”
Pope said Saturday about 50 eight-liner machines were confiscated from the two game rooms. Other items removed by deputies and police included a slow cooker, roasting pan, two refrigerators, ice machine, money counters, a safe and two automatic teller machines.
Pope said he also seized about $7,000 cash and took all the paperwork in both offices into evidence.
Pope said the investigation that led to Friday’s raids on the Monte Carlo and the San Felipe game rooms began shortly after deputies and police raided the Golden Lady Amusement Center, 1609 Ave. G, in mid-January.
Asked what harm there was in allowing “eight-liner” establishments to stay open, Pope said, “First off, it’s against state law. Second off, it becomes addictive to people, and they spend more than they should. We have talked to people whose kids don’t have school supplies because mom spent the money on eight-liners.”
He added, “Some people do drugs, and you could ask, what’s the harm in drugs? The drug dealer wants to sell drugs and the buyer wants to buy them. What’s the harm in prostitution?”
“Gamblers want to gamble, and the casino or game room wants to furnish the opportunity. Some gambling is controlled and regulated. This is uncontrolled, unregulated, illegal gambling,” Pope said.