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Poker raid in Roswell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Police raided a high-stakes poker game at a Roswell residence Monday night, arresting 27 people. Do you think the police are overreacting in staging a raid on a card game at a private residence? Or do the high stakes involved make this case different from smaller games?
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Comments
By kurt
April 10, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this
Obviously the Roswell Police department has too much time on their hands. Next time, why don’t they bust lemonade stands run by little kids for not having the appropriate business licenses…
Let’s see, 27 people at $10,000 a head…. It would be interesting to see how much of that $270,000 turns up unaccounted for…. Now we have a real motive……
By Sam
April 10, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
First, I play online poker, in a regular low stakes home game and several times a year when in Vegas. I love the game.
That being said, I think the raid is justified due to the amount of money that was in play. Those stakes will eventually attract criminals and trouble. That’s not a good mix for a residential neighborhood.
Now, should poker rooms be legalized and taxed as legitimate businesses? YES!!
By Warren
April 10, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
I can think of many things the police should be doing other then kicking doors down at poker games.What a waste of time…They all bond out and be at a different game by the end of the week.
By Doyle Brunson
April 10, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
It should not be the governemnt’s business to regulate what adults want to do with their time and money.
By Curious George
April 10, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
These poker players need to find a wholesome, legal activity — like playing the lottery.
By WTF
April 10, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
Breaking the law is breaking the law…sorry—I did not realize that the part of the police departments job was to interpret which laws to enforce…They obvioulsy had good information and acted upon it and arrested those involved in criminal activity…Don’t want to be arrested…DONT BREAK THE LAW!
By Curious George
April 10, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
WTF, the police decide every day which laws to enforce and which not to. Don’t be naive.
By sandra
April 10, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Keep in mind, folks. Gambling is illegal in Georgia. In fact, it is a felony - right on up there with drugs and murder. There are only three “legalized” forms of gambling allowed by the State - The Georgia Lottery, Bingo, and Raffles, which are ALL tightly regulated. Anything beyond that is a felony offense. Sorry, but Roswell did the right thing and I hope the DA throws the book at these morons!
By Ike
April 10, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
Roswell huh! I wonder if they used para military style raid with automatic weapons drawn, or did they ask them to turn themselves in?
By Ruth
April 10, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
They’ll bust that, but they let other stuff go. All depends on who you know and who’s pocket you’re slipping extra cash in. Guess the chief didn’t get an invitation and he felt left out.
By ed
April 10, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
first off the idiots having it at there home was there first mistake. i am sure neighbors first complained of all the parked cars along the street.
By Hustler
April 10, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
Another example of our Government, Knocking out the competition!!!! They take a Friendly Game like poker! To make the Headlines.. Does anyone here in GA. Know how much cash I have lost n those silly Ga lottery scratch offs? Way2go Roswell Police!! How much money went into that undercover sting.. Did you guys make your point.. I think not… Why can’t you focus on the real problems? Like Meth & Cocaine Dealers, Illegal Immigrants, Gangs.. Or how about those Corporate Thieves? Is it because you are not skilled enough to tackle the real problems?, Or is it you the city of Roswell, that enjoys it’s own little racket… Get the People that commit Murder, Rape, & Fraud!! Teach the Children @ their schools, between right & wrong.. Don’t waste my Tax Dollars or anybody else’s, on BS like this…. Hitler would have been proud! At what America is Becoming!!! Go Roswell
By ed
April 10, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
first off the idiots having it at there home was there first mistake. i am sure neighbors first complained of all the parked cars along the street.
By sg
April 10, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
ummmmm
drugs, murder and poker? How can you possible relate the 1st two to the third?
Idiots like you Sandra are the reason we incacerate more people per sq capita than any other country in the world. Guess who pays for that? Taxpayers.
The police need to quit wasting our money.
By Royal Flush
April 10, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
First off, having everyone park around the house is stupid. Figure out a way not to make it look like something is going on. But it is not a shocker the Roswell PD raided the party. I’m surprised they didn’t use platic explosives to blow the garage door off. This is the same police department that takes two squad cars to pull over an old lady. I could go on all day long about how bad the Roswell police are, I’ve never seen so many cops harass citizens instead of stopping crime.
By joe
April 10, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
While I do not gamble, I do not necessarily frown on those who do. That said, do it in legal venues, not your homes, where in Ga., it is still illegal. The neighbors were obviously wondering what the heck was going on in that house. I would of too…With that much moola in the house, it would be just a matter of time before there was a shooting or a brawl over cheating. In a non-controlled place, like a home, with that much money it is just a matter of when, not if.
By Warren
April 10, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
I sure hope they learned there lesson.Next time use the point system so there’s no cash on the property.Sorry officer’s no cash fix the door on the way out.
By An Angry Individual
April 10, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
Atlanta PD needs to go bust all of these meth-addicts running around GA robbing people. This is the meth capitol of the country, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. NOBODY GIVES A FLYING F*** ABOUT SOME GUYS PLAYING POKER. Go raid some meth heads and quit wasting our tax dollars. And quit busting people for pot too, it’s a waste of money. Protect and serve my ass.
By RJ
April 10, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
I use to frequent a big money game in Buckhead before it was held up. Needless to say I learned my lesson. If the action is good it will either be robbed or get busted eventually. If you want to play cards around Atlanta you must travel to MS,La,Nv, or Nj. The travel may suck, but atleast you don’t have to look over your shoulder.
By Delores Johnston (from beyond)
April 10, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
Well at least they didn’t shoot them up and KILL THEM like they did me.
Guess I should’ve lived in Roswell.
By david
April 10, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
This is a tough one. I play in vegas several times a year and that is legally and morally o.k. This was niether of those. I have to stop myself and wonder ‘are these folks really hurting anyone?’ I think that this quiet neighborhood could only realize harmful affects from this behavior. At that point, I then think of the $25k+ that the city has collected. (two of the arrested were the servers with no buy in). The bottom line is; these folks should have known better than to cause alarm with poor planning with the traffic and commotion.I guess that I do feel bad for these folks…
By Chris
April 10, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this
Why not just legalize gambling? Isn’t the lottery gambling? What is the difference? Look at the money Vegas, Biloxi and other cities with casinos pull in. Think of business the casinos would make on the people heading to Florida or leaving Florida? The state would get their slice of the pie and could allocate that money to schools like the lottery is allocated.
By sandra
April 10, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this
SG, a felony is a felony, no matter whether you get busted for drugs, murder or gambling. Are you saying that the Roswell police shouldn’t have done their job and arrested these criminals? Should they have turned their good-ole-boy backs and ignored the law? What about if it were drugs, which by the way, were found at the scene. Should they turn their backs on drugs, too? I’m thankful that my taxes are paying for a police force that is following the law rather than ignoring it!
By Big Fan
April 10, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
Did they kill the homeowner’s dog?
Did the Popo go home safe that night?
Nationwide, Police are responsible for murdering thousands of dogs in raids, domestic disturbances, and other call outs.
It is true!
By A. Nonnamus
April 10, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
“Next time, why don’t they bust lemonade stands run by little kids for not having the appropriate business licenses…”
Believe it or not, I witnessed a Roswell cop doing just that, when I was delivering pizzas about 15 years ago. Don’t know if it was for the “business license,” but he was telling a woman to shut down her kid’s lemonade stand, which was set up at the bottom of their driveway. I couldn’t hear all of what was being said, but the mother was getting indignant and obviously couldn’t believe it was happening.
Compared to that, for Roswell cops this bust must be like catching bin Laden.
By lulu
April 10, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
From my blog: http://lulupallooza.blogspot.com/
Like many players I agree that poker is a game of skill. If golf tournaments can charge you to enter and give a cash payout because it’s considered a “game of skill”, then so should poker. It’s not luck of the draw. It’s not the luck of the roll of the dice. It’s a game involving strategy and mathematics.
Should that group have been arrested for gambling? No. It’s illegal in the eyes of those who do the arresting in the state of Georgia, however the law states that it’s not illegal IF you look at it as a game of skill (WHICH IT IS!) and not just a gamble. What needs to be changed is the way is the way Georgia lawmen look at it.
By Sherman
April 10, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Nobody is being naive about the police here, but there was obviously a problem with the neighbors cause of all the traffic. Now most of the people on this blog that are defending these poker buddies, ask yourself a question. If there is traffic on your quiet lil street all the time, blocking the road, you are gonna tell the police to figure out what the problem is. So the police set up an investigation, found out what the problem is and it just so happen to be illegal gambling. What are they suppose to say? “Oh, my bad, please continue playing your poker games and clogging the streets’.” NO, they’re gonna arrest them, just like they would somebody playing craps in the street.
By Johnny Sack
April 10, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
HA HA HA they really made a little girl shut down a lemonade stand!!! I bet the cops that were involved in this wet their pants with excitement. I can just picture tear gas, swat teams, helicopters, and that was just stopping someone who ran a red light on Holcomb Bridge on their way to the raid.
By Ted
April 10, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
As Al Sharpton would say,, Its all racist… Roswell police had some white cops on the force and should not have arrested those black guys that was playing. It’s wrong, all wrong.
Oh come on I was just kidding, we really should have let them just keep breaking the law.. I mean don’t we have laws made to be broken ? those cop’s really do not need to inforce any law’s right ?
By Ted
April 10, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this
As Al Sharpton would say,, Its all racist… Roswell police had some white cops on the force and should not have arrested those black guys that was playing. It’s wrong, all wrong.
Oh come on I was just kidding, we really should have let them just keep breaking the law.. I mean don’t we have laws made to be broken ? those cop’s really do not need to inforce any law’s right ?
By Bill
April 10, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
It would make more sense to me to concentrate on the gangs and illegals within the city of Roswell. Meth and cocaine are doing a lot more damgage to our children than a high stakes poker game does. Anyone can play high stakes on line poker now in Roswell “legally”!!
By sandra
April 10, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
Lulu, Georgia law states that if you pay consideration (money) to play any game involving cards, dice or balls, and there is a prize involved, whether it be cash or noncash, it is gambling, which is a felony. It doesn’t matter if there is skill involved or not. You are still paying to play. You are playing with cards. And there is a huge cash payout! That is the definition of gambling. A felony.
By BWH
April 10, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
I sure am glad my tax payer dollars are being spent on long-term, costly investigations such as these. Give me break, these people were not hurting anyone, the arbitrary distinction between different forms of gambling (lotto and poker) astounds me, how can any rational person not see the hypocrisy in that.
By JJ
April 10, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
All of you people who are saying that the city of Roswell should be busting murderers and drug dealers, who says they are not!?! Any time that a case like this arises, comments are always said like “dont they have anything better to do?” Well they have and are dealing with those cases as well, come on, it is the ignorant people who do not realize that these officers are dealing with the murder, drug and rape cases right along side cases like this one. Get with it, its illegal! Don’t do it! If you were their neighbor, would you want the traffic on your street on a regular basis? The case started with a simple traffic complaint, they were only responding to a complaint from a citizen and after doing their research they came upon this poker ring.
Come on people, you would criticize just the same if they did nothing after learning of this! you would all be saying that they got a complaint and choose not to respond so they’re not doing their job! You people are crazy, crime is crime, lets put a stop to it! GO ROSWELL!!
By kevin
April 10, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Only idiots would not think cars parked outside their house wouldn’t eventually get noticed but as someone who plays poker I don’t believe that what people do in their own private home with their money should be governed by law. We have enough real battles to fight in society…
By Toad
April 10, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Demon Poker! I’m just relieved that none of the liquor that was present could be purchased on the Sabbath! Thank you Jeebus and RPD for keeping us safe from ourselves!
By Katie
April 10, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Who cares if some people want to get together and play poker with real money. Our family gets together and plays but we usually only play with $20-$40, not $10,000. If someone can afford to spend that much then let them do it. Uncle Sam just doesn’t like it because he doesn’t get his cut—well too bad Sammy.
By FluffAlbright
April 10, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
Here are some more Georgia laws that I’m sure we are all in full compliance/agreement with:
For the good of society, I hope Sandra the busybody will call 911 if she happens to see a donkey in a bathtub.
By Katie
April 10, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this
Hey Fluff, you forgot my favorite. It’s illegal in the state of Georgia for a chicken to cross a road.. How many chickens have been charged do you think.
By Bruce
April 10, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
C’mon its time for everybody to get real. How many times do you walk in to a convenience store and see some poor sap with 3 teeth spending all his money on 48 lottery scratch-offs. That is much more of a problem with these people that are addicted and spending ALL their money on lottery tickets vs. a Texas Holdem tourny where your losses are limited in most cases to the buy-in.
By scott
April 10, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
I wonder how much taxpayer money was spent on this raid. Did they collect enough from the raid to cover it? All of this and most of the arrested will be charged with misdemeanors.
I found it funny that as WSBTV was reporting on this story this morning, the sponsor of their traffic and weather bar at the bottom of the screen was Beau Rivage.
By lulu
April 10, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
Um…Sandra…
Isn’t lottery played on cards and the numbers drawn by balls in a machine? You pay to play. Hmmm, and a large cash payout. If you want to get technical. “That is the definition of gambling. A felony.”
By lulu
April 10, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Scott…I noticed that TOO!!!!! LOL
By Cayman
April 10, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
I play cards and host very low stakes poker every once in a blue moon, and to me that should not be a felony - it’s just friends getting together and a few bucks changes hands which the Gov’t should NEVER get involved in. However, I do think that a $10k buy in is super excessive and can lead to down a path to violence or worse at the game. I don’t have 10k to gamble with for God’s sake! Though a part of me feels you should be able to do whatever you want as well - so I am torn.
But this wasn’t your average friends poker night and I doubt the Roswell Gestapo would have busted a game with a $20 buy in - but the stakes here are too high like I said! To allow a high stakes game like that does set a bad precident.
I just don’t want to see Roswell’s finest the next time I have a few friends over for a game!
By SRB
April 10, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
If the governement cant tax or regualte it then they have a problem. All you drug dealers, prosititutes, pimps, and illegal gaming better watch out. LMAO
By Sandra
April 10, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
Regardless of whether or not we like the laws of this State, whether they are silly or outdated, the fact remains that we can be put in jail if we break the law. So, FluffAlbright, if you keep your donkey in the bathtub and get busted for it, you can’t claim you were unaware that it was illegal! Ignorance of the law is no excuse! Likewise, whether we think gambling is okay, Georgia law says it is not. Also, if you don’t like the laws the way they are written, it is your right to call your legislator and ask to have them reviewed and/or changed. You voted for them, you have a say in what they do. Just a thought…
By Ellen
April 10, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
I was arrested once because I didn’t understand a traffic cop’s instructions. When I asked for help, I was handcuffed and arrested, sat in the Fulton County jail for 8 hours, only to be released. Clearly the police have lost sight of who REAL criminals are. I live in East Atlanta and have called the police repeatedly to report drug activity out in the open on my street, yet no one respond. But they arrest ME for asking for help at a traffic stop. I think all police are scum until proven otherwise.
By Bubba
April 10, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
Waz They any nappy headed hoe’s playen in the game? Bubba
By lulu
April 10, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2005
Thank you, Dale Russell of the Fox 5 I-Team, for bringing attention to your viewers about the “illegal tournaments” going on in Atlanta to raise money for charities. Lord knows those pesky charities don’t need the funds that were being raised for them. How much will YOU be contributing to these Non-Profits (Children’s Charities, Katrina’s Family Charities, Wheelchair Athletes, religious charities and Shriners) now to make up for the losses they will suffer?
MAYBE IF THIS HAD NOT HAPPENED….Part of that $10K buy in could have gone to charity?!
By Dwayne
April 10, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
How freaking sad. I don’t play cards but people blow their money on lotto and the gov’t loves it, just as long as they get their piece of the pie, that’s all they want.
By Q
April 10, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
Did all of you guys think the same thing about the Clayton county busts on massage rings for illegal prostitution?? How about that illegal gambling ring bust in Dekalb county (inner city of course)?? I bet your thoughts then were ‘Get those b*stards!’ They weren’t harming anyone either…..
But now that some wealthy to-do men get busted, it’s a waste of time.
Breaking the law is breaking the law!
The double standards are sickening!!!!
By edge770
April 10, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this
Roswell PD’s official motto.. Cha-Ching.. always has been always will be. I admit I’d be a little more inconspicious. Next stop, the VFW..
By Sandra
April 10, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
Lulu,
Please review my first post. There are three LEGALIZED forms of gambling in this state. The lottery, bingo and raffles. What LEGALIZED means is that the State Legislature made exceptions to the gambling law. Anything beyond these three legalized forms of gambling is ILLEGAL. Just like comparing cigaretts and pot. Cigarettes are rolled weeds in white paper…legal. Pot is rolled weeds in white paper…illegal. You won’t get arrested and go to jail if you stand on the street corner smoking a cigarette, but you will get arrested if you stand on that corner and smoke pot.
By babao'riley
April 10, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
Typical small town police response to a minor crime. How else are the popo going to use all of there new high-tech toys that Homeland Security grants bought for them? Sherriff Bubba gets a little face time on the local news and Officer Obie gets to take out the robotic bomb disarming device and show the boys what that robot can do. I’m quite sure all the meth labs and cocaine stash houses have been shut down in Roswell so the popo can now enforce the traffic laws on quiet residential streets while ridding Roswell of those degenerate gamblers.
By Becky
April 10, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
If these people can afford it & aren’t hurting ayone, let them play. Yes, I understand that it’s a felony, but aren’t there worse things going on in the world for us to be worried about?
By jus.me
April 10, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Well, let’s see: Oh yeah, gambling is illegal in Georgia. Bust ‘em and jail ‘em, and fine ‘em. NO MERCY!!!!
By artie
April 10, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
it’s funny how some people b*** about the job the police do- until they need them!!
By Roswell Po-Po
April 10, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
NEXT RAID:
People who use sex toys for other than “educational purposes”. We’ve been involved in a secret investigation for the last 6 months, doing a LOT of research in adult stores.
We don’t make the laws, we don’t decide which ones to enforce. Using sex toys for pleasure purposes is ILLEGAL in Georgia, and we are upheld to enforce the laws of this great state!!!
Consider this a warning! If you have been using sex toys for pleasure, we’re coming for you! Wait…I mean we’re on the lookout for you!
By lulu
April 10, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Laws/Georgia/
16-12-20.
As used in this part, the term: (1) “Bet” means an agreement that, dependent upon chance even though accompanied by some skill, one stands to win or lose something of value. A bet does *not include:* (A) Contracts of indemnity or guaranty or life, health, property, or accident insurance; or *(B) An offer of a prize, award, or compensation to the actual contestants in any bona fide contest for the determination of *skill, speed, strength, or endurance or to the owners of animals, vehicles, watercraft, or aircraft entered in such contest.
By petunia
April 10, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
the indignation from you people is soooo amusing! “How dare those police officers arrest these innocent citizens engaged in an innocent pastime like…card playing for money?!” and the really fallacious “Why aren’t they out there arresting real criminals?!” LOL! Sounds like these gamblers have the same argument that illegal aliens use…that because they don’t agree with the law, they aren’t criminals. And even if they were criminals, the law is stupid and it shouldn’t be enforced…and anyway, they weren’t hurtin’ nobody! It’s not fair… (sniff…sniff…sob..)
By GoodGrief
April 10, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
ONLY IN ROSWELL!
By intown
April 10, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this
I live in a high-rise in the city with about 300 other condo units. You would not believe what goes on where I live especially on sat. nights!!
By mel
April 10, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
Let’s get this straight:
It’s perfectly legal to gamble away your family’s life savings by buying lottery tickets, where the state gets a cut. But it’s illegal to gamble away $100 in a private poker game, where the state doesn’t get a cut.
OK—-I see now and fully understand. The government, our great protector.
By JustMe
April 10, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
Over-reaction? HECK YES!!!
This was a victim-less crime. Why don’t the police go after the crimes where there are victims with such eagarness?
Heck, even traffic tickets would be better time spent than this - at least enforcing traffic laws may prevent an accident.
petunia - no one said that those people were “innocent” (or at least they didn’t mean this literally). Yes, they broke a law, but the reality is that no one was hurt by them breaking the law. Why does the police pursue this when there are so many victims of real crimes out there?
What happened to the “protect” part for the police?
By edge770
April 10, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
No I felt the same way about any victimless crime. If you want pot, sex or gamble, they should be legal. But, the real issue is was the response appropiate to the activity? I don’t think so and Roswell looks like what they are, small town amateur hour units that want their grants and rewards from the state and feds. Legal discretion is used by every officer, every shift. Soccer moms that have no intellectual capacity and shielded from every social challenge whine because they can’t get on peach care or they can’t participate in economic enterprise. I hope the judge/da puts all perps in first offender status and tell Chief Ed to go back to Americus with his Billy Beer.
By allen981
April 10, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
To the person who said poker is a game of skill: you’re an idiot.
Yes, poker requires some sensibility to play, but mathmatics and probability ultimately have little to do with winning or losing. Fact is, no matter how good a player you are, if you don’t occasionally get good cards, you will not win. Tournaments are routinely decided on bad beats on the river, and that’s why it’s gambling, plain and simple.
With that much money in play, and with the house for certain taking a cut, that’s a criminal enterprise that Roswell police were right to shut down.
By Bark up the right tree!
April 10, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
Law makers pass laws and the police enforce them. I wish each of you would write your representative with your concerns. Until then, whining about the police accomplishes nothing.
By WakeUpAmerica!
April 10, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this
The rise of the Orwellian police state continues. Government pushes for more unchecked growth & power. They “crack down” on minor distractions like this while the borders are wide open, the North American Union is coming, the national RFID card is coming next year & the fiat U.S. dollar is being intentionally devalued. Americans need to wake up & walk away from all the mindless fluff distracting them from what’s really happening! Folks need to turn off the SheepleVision, put down their iPods, Blackberries & video games and stand up to defend our once-great Republic, Consitution & U.S. borders & sovereignty!!!
www.infowars.com www.jonesreport.com www.jbs.org
By Dictator
April 10, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Let’s see…..How does the reporter do with this story? He really wants to build up the tension and hope it gets picked up by the wire services…. OH, here you go! 1) Kids lived in the house. THere is no mention if the kids were there or not. I suspect by the careful wording that the kids were not actually present, otherwise it would say so. 2) Guns were found in one of the cars! Wait, that is legal in Georgia…WTF? Oh well, it makes the story good. 3) There was a lot of cash! Well, hell. If people have to drive far enough to find a game, they will want to make it worth the time. I don;t get the numbers though if players had to buy in for $10,000. There was only $45,000 on site. So four people were playing and the others were there watching? Sounds like sloppy writing to me. It’s okay to be careless with the facts as long as we are slamming poker players, right? 4) Women were serving drinks! Wait, we they SELLING drinks? I think not since that is not mentioned. So, giving away drinks is a crime? Or is getting paid to give away drinks a crime? Where is the crime here? Oh, wait, maybe they were “harlots”? We are in the Bible Belt. Maybe it is a crime to be a harlot and serve free drinks to people.
Lazy reporters are asses! Twist the story to make it more emotion and less fact and THAT behavior is rewarded every time.
By sandra
April 10, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
16-12-21. Gambling
(a) A person commits the offense of gambling when he:
(1) Makes a bet upon the partial or final result of any game or contest or upon the performance of any participant in such game or contest;
(2) Makes a bet upon the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or upon the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate; or
(3) Plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, or balls.
(b) A person who commits the offense of gambling shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Lulu, A Texas Holdem Poker game is not a BONA FIDE contest of skill. You can’t attach the word skill and make it legal, nor can you cherry pick parts of the law and hope it flys in court. It takes some skill to roll a joint properly, but that doesn’t make it legal to smoke it!
By MrLiberty
April 10, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
Face it folks, all laws against gambling are about money, power, and control. The government doesn’t care what you are doing so long as they get their cut. Unfortunately we are filled with losers like WTF who blindly tollerate any law passed by the jerks under the gold dome. Hey, there are plenty of laws on the books that never get enforced. Thank goodness. If the city of Roswell had any decent leadership they would be guiding their police force in the direction of enforcing laws with real victims instead of these ridiculous victimless crimes. But of course we can only imagine what Roswell’s take of these dollars is going to be. I am sure the civil asset forfeiture laws will also be imposed and the house, car, and kids will all be seized and sold to pay for new paint jobs for the cop cars and free-flowing donut holes for the squad room.
Isn’t it time to take back this country from the politicians? Isn’t it time for them to protect our freedoms, rather than impinging upon and destroying them?
By Jason
April 10, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this
I’m so happy to see these comments. I’ve been looking for a way supplement my income with very little work. Since the people of Roswell appear to believe that no crimes should be investigated or prosecuted as long as a more serious crime has not been solved, I’m going to start stealing cars. Why not? The Roswell police won’t be able to touch me because more important crimes like murder are still happening.
What a great city we have with Roswell! I’m going to be rich and there is very little risk in getting thrown in jail, and if a car owner decides to shoot me while I’m stealing the car, heck, that’s more serious than the theft so they’re going to jail while I get their car.
HAHAHA! Roswell rules!
By daver
April 10, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
The Roswell police are the dirtiest i have ever come across. My car got totalled by a dealership car that was flying down the suicide lane in a construction zone and i got a ticket for not yielding to him! b.s. but that is why i moved to the big CO. No asshole cops, lying hypocritical religious baptist freaks, and the best reason of all—- no blue gums. damn good stuff out here
By lulu
April 10, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
Sorry allen981,
I don’t care to lower myself to name-calling, but I will say that only an unexperienced player or SPECTATOR would think there was no skill or mathematics to playing Texas Hold ‘em. I know from experience that you don’t need a good hand to win, you said it yourself…bad beats are a part of the game…You need good strategy, skill and endurance. Like most games of skill you must practice to get better.
Have I ever spent $10K on a game? Never. Would I if it was legal? No.
By CJ
April 10, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
They’ll enter a private home to bust up a poker game, but won’t haul in the obvious dealers and prostitutes intown!
By Q
April 10, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this
CJ,
Why would u bust a prostitute and not an illegal gambler??? What makes the two different? What would u say about someone busting into a private home where prostitution is happening??
By Jo Jo
April 10, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this
This is so stupid. The police could be raiding meth labs, but instead they want to waste their time inconveniencing rich. How do expect rich people to get rid of all their money? You can only buy so many Bentleys. The police need to stop harassing rich people and stick with harassing the real criminals down inside the perimeter.
By doug
April 10, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this
WOW, Cops raiding a neighborhood card game. You’ve got to be kidding. And bringing in the SWAT team. How many weeks did they practace this raid on these “dangerous felons”. We have killings, robberies, rapes, and burglaries and we are paying tax dollars to fund raiding a card game! Give me a break!!
By Jo Jo
April 10, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
This is so stupid. The police could be raiding meth labs, but instead they want to waste their time inconveniencing rich. How do expect rich people to get rid of all their money? You can only buy so many Bentleys. The police need to stop harassing rich people and stick with harassing the real criminals down inside the perimeter.
By harold
April 10, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
if these morons had just carpooled they never would have been busted, eh. idiots.
By edge770
April 10, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
Well. it seems that those against Roswell PD are thugs and criminals, and then have high mightys.. Roswell PD has always been overtly aggressive in chasing small crime, not so successful with big crime, Do two cops sharing a radar gun look kind of buffoonish? Or having more color types of vehicles to “confuse” or cost the city more cash in supporting multiple paint schemes for it’s vehicles? Or chasing perps in a black suv more in line by the Secret Service? Yes gambling is wrong, but does it require a big raid with news splash? No, it’s more political than solving a problem which is what Roswell is good at. Line 4 squad cars and chase down the 11 mph over the limit drivers. Law enforcement wants respect, they get it when they use common sense law enforcement and better judgement. THeir judgement skills are lacking.
By Jack Bauer
April 10, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
Sorry about the raid, guys! I’ve had a really bad day and haven’t eaten or slept in over 24 hours.
By Blind Homer
April 10, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
Hold judgment until the sentences are in. Chrages dropped, fines and money confiscated for misdemeanors, more fines and maybe probation for “felons”, but no jail time for anyone. It’s all about Roswell legally stealing the player’s money.
By lulu
April 10, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Ok Sandra and other Naysayers….Let’s follow all the laws. If you do, I will. But boy, I’m going to be cranky, so is my spouse and so are you and your significant others when they find out that your law-abiding self can’t do this anymore:
16-6-2. Sodomy; aggravated sodomy. (a) A person commits the offense of sodomy when he performs or submits to any sexual act involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another. A person commits the offense of aggravated sodomy when he commits sodomy with force and against the will of the other person. (b) A person convicted of the offense of sodomy shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 20 years. A person convicted of the offense of aggravated sodomy shall be punished by imprisonment for life or by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 20 years. Any person convicted under this Code section of the offense of aggravated sodomy shall, in addition, be subject to the sentencing and punishment provisions of Code Sections 17-10-6.1 and 17- 10-7.
It’s a victim-less crime. (Sodomy, not “aggravated sodomy”). It’s done in your own home (if you’re lucky). But it’s against the law and you “can’t attach the word skill and make it legal, nor can you cherry pick parts of the law and hope it flys (sic) in court.”
Ok. Maybe I would rather go to jail.
By WTF
April 10, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Take RJ’s post…perfect example…Poker is victimless, until it draws the PROVEN things that go with it…his game in Buckhead was “held up” in his words, Crime begets crime…
By lulu
April 10, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
“WTF”…..please………..Banks get held up all the time. Are bankers/tellers criminals?
It was held up because it was mismanaged. The people sponsoring it will admit that!
By Hotlanta
April 10, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer citizens calling about cars on the streets, police come. Taxpayer citizens calling about 2 missing teenagers, police doesn’t show they have to find the kids themselves. PRICELESS
By Hotlanta
April 10, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer citizens calling about cars on the streets, police come. Taxpayer citizens calling about 2 missing teenagers, police doesn’t show they have to find the kids themselves. PRICELESS
By Uncle Jesse
April 10, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
The police get to keep all seized monies upon conviction, correct?
That’s the only reason this raid occurred.
Guess the Roswell PD will have a humdinger of a Christmas party this year.
By Hotlanta
April 10, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer citizens calling about cars on the streets, police come. Taxpayer citizens calling about 2 missing teenagers, police doesn’t show they have to find the kids themselves. PRICELESS
By J
April 10, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this
Sandra, ever engage in sodomy with your significant other? Do you know of people who have? If so, as a law-abiding citizen you must turn yourself and or others in to the Roswell PD. It’s ILLEGAL in Georgia.
By Dave
April 10, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
Surprise - the police overracting to something, especially in Roswell.
Roswell cops are the worst. They have nothing better to do than intimidate drivers, so this poker game must’ve made their year!
I’m surprised they didn’t shoot someone for looking at them the wrong way.
Pompous, hypocritical jerks.
By Ga Liberal
April 10, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
I agree that a private poker game or betting pool on sports is not in the interest of the state. This case is not a private poker game, but was being run as a gaming house. You need a license for that in states where gambling is allowed. However, the great theocrats that actually run the state have decided that all forms of gambling will be illegal. Roswell police were justified in this raid because it went too far. I just wish they would put as much effort into enforcing red lights and school speed zones.
This is another form of good ol’ boy Sonny’s “nanny” state. He doesn’t like protecting childern against second-hand smoke, but won’t let the voters decide on Sunday beer/wine sales. Typical Republican hyprocrisy.
By ab
April 10, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
Who cares!! All the crime with drugs and children these days, and these cops are busting a poker game. Were they harming anything or anybody??
By Brenda
April 10, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this
I did not know that gambling was illegal. I see people on television gambling for a lot of money and thought it was legal. Is gambling illegal only in the home or is there a gambling limit? Someone please explain this to me.
By roswell resident
April 10, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
as a tax-paying Roswell resident, I’m really disappointed in our police for this. What a colossal waste of resources. They should stay focused on the many illegals who have taken up residence in the city and who have turned some portions of it into ghetto. Make their lives uncomfortable until they move on to Acworth or somewhere else.
This is one of the few times where I wouldn’t mind jury duty. I would vote not to convict, screw the ‘evidence.’ Some laws are so stupid jury nullification is the only option, and god knows, this is one.
By Richard
April 10, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
Thats is so stupid.. Its none of the polices businness or anybody elses for that matter what people want to do with their hard earned money….A swat team for a poker game?? Don’t they have more important things to do like stopping rape, murder, gang related stuff…the police is a joke and the biggest Gang known to man in our world.
By michelle
April 10, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this
roswell police (and the united states of america) are whiny little babies. like every other crap thing that’s regulated in this country, these folks are just p** they had no control and weren’t raking in their convenience charges/TAXES.
the first poster is right: every damn penny of that $270K BETTER be accounted for you fookin crooks. go fight real victim crime instead of VICTIMLESS crime. i’m sure glad my city tax dollars didn’t support this. city of roswell is crap. end of story.
By bill
April 10, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
Wow!!! I love how the government works. With 10 Grand you can’t play poker but you can buy American Citizenship?
By Shanthemanatl
April 10, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
Though I think gambling should be legal, I do not believe the authorities overreacted. I’m sure all of the participants involved in this were fully aware that what they were doing was illegal. Why should they be exempt from the law? There are lots of other people who are prosecuted for “victimless” crimes, like personal drug use and prostitution. Why are these people any different?
By braves fan
April 10, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
I did not realize that playing poker in ones own home among friends was illegal. So they are rich friend, having money is not againt the law, or is it. Bill Gates might know. Gosh my stakes are only $5.00 but I had better watch out.
By BOBBY
April 10, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
How much investigation and man hours was put into this raid. This is only illegal because the Gov. can’t get it’s cut. This is a joke. Did they have the Swat team? The stock market is a gamble, the lottery is a gamble. To be honest I can care less about making it legal, just use that man power on big time drug dealers and I don’t mean PorkChop down the street but the corporate dealers. It kinda feels like getting busted for doing 57 mph on the expressway and the limit is 55.
By Brandon
April 10, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
you know i would be the winner!!!!!!!!!
By Police are GANGS
April 10, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
The police in this entire metro area are cowards. Real crime is getting worse and worse and they are focuses on hookers in gwinnett and poker in roswell. I guess when people get together and play poker for 10k the police are jealous they don’t make enough money to play so they have to bust them. Some people say we don’t pay our police enough. After reading stories like this it’s obvious we are overpaying them.
The government has no right to tell us what we can and can’t do when it comes to things like this. The continue to do it and it’s because of the multiple mindless sheep you can read on this post who say “well it’s the law”. Nevermind the fact it’s a BS law.
You have to ask yourself if cops were more intelligent then would probably be banking some real money in corporate america instead we got the bottom dwelling mall ninja’s wearing a badge.
By Rod
April 10, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
What a bunch of morons posting on here blaming the police for doing their jobs.
Gamblings illegal you idiots! I live in that subdivision and it’s ridiculous the amount of cars that park around that house. 20 cars is a lot - but that was a slow night.
If you don’t understand about breaking the law, then you’re just a pathetic waste of breath.
By sg
April 10, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
hey sandra,
next time you speed you should go to the police station and turn yourself in. A crime is a crime.
By Allen
April 10, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
What else are the police going to do? While they were busting that poker game there certainly weren’t any burglaries, robberies, rapes, murders, or vandalism going on, right? Don’t they have to earn their salary somehow? Way to go Roswell!! Keep those consenting adults out of their own living rooms where they could be….GASP!!! gambling with their own money. I feel so much safer today than I did yesterday. Thanks again.
By david
April 10, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
Br..enda, gambling is illegal in ga. The games you see on t.v. are in legal gambling locales. I found out these folks had a couple of guns found in their vehicles. That is scary. Imagine a big loser that has been drinking. A few bad words and the guy walks to his car and it all starts. That’s the problem with this big $ stuff. I am sure that anyone in this neighborhood would have jumped through the roof knowing this danger was so close…
By david
April 10, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
Br..enda, gambling is illegal in ga. The games you see on t.v. are in legal gambling locales. I found out these folks had a couple of guns found in their vehicles. That is scary. Imagine a big loser that has been drinking. A few bad words and the guy walks to his car and it all starts. That’s the problem with this big $ stuff. I am sure that anyone in this neighborhood would have jumped through the roof knowing this danger was so close…
By Najeh Davenpoop
April 10, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
If day-trading is legal, high-stakes poker should be too. Poker is no more a game of chance than short-term investing. The arrests are justified because the law is on the books, but the law needs to be changed. It’s not the government’s job to legislate morals, and hopefully our society will realize that sooner or later.
By Red
April 10, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Power addled buffoons.
By Red
April 10, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
Power addled buffoons.
By Len Robertson
April 10, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this
The Keystone cops strike again! Roswell Police need to get a grip. All Roswell are interested in is arresting people for having too many cars parked in front of their house or whatever in order to fill the jail so they can earn monies for each inmate they arrest. Let someone be broken into or be a raped or murdered well there is no money in it so good luck. I think this police force needs a new direction. I will be letting this be known with my votes come election time. A dissatisfied Roswell resident
By sg
April 10, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
You can’t legislate morality
They attempted this during prohibition which did nothing more than create/enhance organized crime.
Its about money. Cops count on civil seizure of assets for yearly budgets. The article stated they impounded cars.
Billy Bob can now get those infared goggles so he can see through walls and bust people for using sex toys.
The government is like a drug addict. The more you give them the more they want.
By david
April 10, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
Naj, you are correct. If it were legalized than the chance of guns and drugs being utilized would be lowered.
By King JEC IV
April 10, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
Was it really necessary for the SWAT team to show up? This is a residential home. They had no reason to believe any violent activity was taking place there. Why bring SWAT with all of the guns to a house with people playing poker? That must have been a scary sight for the poker players. Could you imagine sitting around a table playing poker and have a masked man stick a high-powered gun in your face? Freeze. You’re under arrest for playing poker!! Since the game lends itself to an “increase in criminals”, it will be interesting to hear about the records of the players of the game.
By david
April 10, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this
sg, how right you are. I can’t waste anymore time on an issue that will not be changed because it is about $ and roswell just covered their quota for a while…
By edge770
April 10, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
If I was going to break this up and do it right, I’d just run a black and white every 30 minutes going up and down the neighborhood and stopping by the house. That would have been enough deterrence to remove the problem. Patrol does more to solve problems, than sneaking and peeking with their Harley’s and dark blue crown vics. City Council should remove the chief, and hire someone more able to resolve issues than creating circuses and malcontents.
By Cane
April 10, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
This is a good example of GA and its bible belt laws. No alchohol sales on Sunday and now busting up a poker game. However the police did what they had to do. Don’t forget that the complaint came from neighbors about too much traffic on a weekly basis at this one house in a quiet neighborhood where I am sure that the neigbors are nosey enough to comment on other neighbors homes, yards, personal habits and what have you.
By RBM
April 10, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
You folks are absolutely ridiculous. Poker is played weekly on every street in every subdivision in the city. Big stakes, small stakes, and everything in between. Just more of big brother regulating the ridiculous forms of morality. Lets all meet at the strip club and have a beer. Religous right folks make me want to puke.
By RBM
April 10, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
You folks are absolutely ridiculous. Poker is played weekly on every street in every subdivision in the city. Big stakes, small stakes, and everything in between. Just more of big brother regulating the ridiculous forms of morality. Lets all meet at the strip club and have a beer. Religous right folks make me want to puke.
By RBM
April 10, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
You folks are absolutely ridiculous. Poker is played weekly on every street in every subdivision in the city. Big stakes, small stakes, and everything in between. Just more of big brother regulating the ridiculous forms of morality. Lets all meet at the strip club and have a beer. Religous right folks make me want to puke.
By Roswell Gestapo
April 10, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
Let’s see:
Red Light cameras Speed Traps Busting up Poker games.
No, its not Walking Tall, it is the THE CITY OF ROSWELL POLICE are a bunch of heavy-handed bufoons, plus they have one of the largest $$$ tax bases in the state. Why are they so greedy? Oh, I forgot. It’s all about our “safety”. They are helping keep us safe.
PLEASE. This not protecting or serving anyone, except their own self-interest. They will probably take the $45K proceeds and go buy a chase-car and a new radar gun so they can issue more citations/get more revenue.
By Jack
April 10, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this
Suppose it is a lot easier to go after gamers who are not hurting anyone — except for their own pockets — than pursuing drug pushers who might fight back!! Plus, look at all of the free coverage they received!!!
How many other more serious crimes occurred in Roswell last night that we have not heard about??
By lucky
April 10, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
It’s obvious that Roswell POLICE DEPT have nothing better to do with their time and tax payer money.Please when pocker is all over T.V every time I turn on the TV i see a pocker game…..This world is all about greed and fame and that’s why they all going to burn in hell….for prejudging….and stealling.because you know the money they took from them was not a counted for…ROSWELL POLICE DEPT GET A LIFE FIGHT CRIME NOT WASTE MY TAX MONEY..PLEASE….
By lucky
April 10, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
It’s obvious that Roswell POLICE DEPT have nothing better to do with their time and tax payer money.Please when pocker is all over T.V every time I turn on the TV i see a pocker game…..This world is all about greed and fame and that’s why they all going to burn in hell….for prejudging….and stealling.because you know the money they took from them was not a counted for…ROSWELL POLICE DEPT GET A LIFE FIGHT CRIME NOT WASTE MY TAX MONEY..PLEASE….
By WTF
April 10, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Liberty, sounds to me like you are Mr. Liberal, you see I don’t blindly follow laws, I am politically active and vocal. I use my voice to vote, write congressmen and lawmakers and you keep thinking that the voice of the individual does not make a difference. The party was busted from an individuals (or many individuals) complaints and vigilance in reporting. This was not a sting operation. The target was not determined by potential outcome or to impede emanate domain over the moneys. If you don’t like the legal climate and the LAWS on the books run for office, start a petition, vote, but don’t sit idly and say its all about money and power….Most people with money and power got there and stay there through a democratic process…it they abuse power while there they will be handled by the process, that is why there is little or no chance of a republican victory in the white house, that is why we have checks and balances…but I guess it is easier for you to spectate than participate…most critics of society and order are those who judge it and cry for change but do little to make that happen…I will pray for you
By Unclebuck
April 10, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
What is the difference between 10-30 people kicking money into a prize pool and the winner takes all in a game of poker compared to…. 20 rednecks kicking money into a prize pool to race around a dirt oval and winner takes all???? Happens every weekend at Lanier Speedway and other tracks around Georgia. Poker is a game of skill NOT GAMBLING
By Ted
April 10, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
I really don’t care about the poker game , but what did the girls serving the drinks look like ?? thats what Im talking about.
Next: word of advice -> Don’t ever let the neighbors play, you take there money, the wife gets p**. then the husband comes over again and the wife gets mad and calls the law. After all 10 grand is alot to loose.
Ok i got to go, Shoot Im still looking for O.J’s knife.
Peace. Ted
By AddItup
April 10, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
Add it all up morons…you want the police to do more about what you deem crimes, well guess what, that takes money, ie: revenues—that comes from taxes and fines. Every crime convicted, be it from a red light camera to a poker game generates fines that equate to revenues that equate to better police protection. Either shut up and pay twice as much taxes or stay within the law and let law breakers incur the expense from their fines from ILLEGAL ACTIVITY!
By Rose-colored glasses
April 10, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
This is why I vote Democrat. They don’t try to legislate morality; they just want us to have a cleaner environment; healthy, intelligent children; and the right to marry any person we choose, among other things.
Congrats to the Roswell PD, and to all the whiners - if you don’t like it, get involved in your government. The real crime is the millions of people who stand aside and DON’T VOTE, and then complain about who got elected and which laws got passed. If only all the lawbreakers in the world were as easy to catpure as these folks…
By Daniel
April 10, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
Whoever says “it’s illegal, live with it” is just naive and too lazy to think for themselves. These kind of laws are waaay too close for comfort in term of invasion of privacy. And if you say poker games always breed criminals, that’s ignorant too. That’d be like arresting some kid for standing on a street corner b/c you think he might be a drug dealer when he grows up.
This raid was not about the law. This was about money. Some of that money will go unaccounted for because jerk cops are gonna keep it. And the rest will end up going towards new squad cars or whatever they feel like spending it on.
By missy in ga
April 10, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
remember when firecrackers & fireworks were illegal??? did anyone ever get busted shooting them off on the 4th of July?? surely that was more “DANGEROUS” than poker.how many fores started??? get a life roswell police. what is next? the old folks home for playing illegal scrabble or mar jhong clubs?
By missy in ga
April 10, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
remember when firecrackers & fireworks were illegal??? did anyone ever get busted shooting them off on the 4th of July?? surely that was more “DANGEROUS” than poker.how many fires started??? get a life roswell police. what is next? the old folks home for playing illegal scrabble or mar jhong clubs?
By missy in ga
April 10, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
remember when firecrackers & fireworks were illegal??? did anyone ever get busted shooting them off on the 4th of July?? surely that was more “DANGEROUS” than poker.how many fires started??? get a life roswell police. what is next? the old folks home for playing illegal scrabble or mar jhong clubs?
By Cane
April 10, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
What they got busted for is ridiculous,
But hey!
The neighbors were complianing
What can You do?
If nothing happened then all hell would have broke loose for the police not to do something!
Stop complaining and Vote!
Yes to Alcohol sales on Sunday! Yes to slots and other Gambling!
By brooksdawgs
April 10, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
They broke the law and got arrested people. As many have said yes the Police pick and choose all over this great nation what laws to enforce and not to enforce each and every day. It’s funny that our great state can get so much money by taking our money through the lottery(gambling) and yet can throw people in jail for doing the same thing in their own home with their own money just because they have a deck of cards in their hand or a pair of dice. That is the problem the laws should change. I personally wouldn’t gamble and the law wouldn’t affect me in no way shape or fashion. However, I hate it when the govt. can come in and tell us how we have to live our lives and spend our money. Same goes for Sunday alchohol sales, it’s not the govt. business if we by alcholol on Sunday or not. I would agree with them if the country as a whole still stood by our founding fathers beliefs in Christiatinity but, with our political correctness these days and the blatant anti Christian movement in this country and state they can’t stand by that. You can say anything bad about a Christian but you better not say anything about someone of another religion or you are what “RACIST” as many would have the public agree.
By brooksdawgs
April 10, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
Rose colored glasses, you shouldn’t vote Democrat just to say you voted Democrat. The problem with the country is that it is split via party lines. The true people in office should be people who will work for the people and with the people instead of just lining their pockets through special interest. This goes for Republican and Democrats. until we take the trash out of DC and the Gold Dome we can expect more of the same.
By david
April 10, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
It sounds like the two folks that set this up were pretty thourough. The cops preperation didn’t bust this one, the lack of full planning did. Next time the folks need to create a better plan for the cars and noise. Park in a public place and have a shuttle back and forth?
By Jimmy
April 10, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
Hey david, or better yet, Don’t conduct illegal gaming. Is that not a better option?
By CJ
April 10, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
BTW - ducks were jaywalking across Riverside Drive in Roswell. Book ‘em!
By petunia
April 10, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
why don’t you whiners start going down to your local police station and let them know which laws they need to be enforcing and which ones they should just ignore.
Great comments from Additup and Rose-colored glasses.
By the bye, all y’all who think this law is bogus…QUIT VOTING THE REPUBLICANS INTO OFFICE!!! They’re the ones trying to legislate your private life.
By david
April 10, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
Jimmy, or better yet, take a joke. If you read the full opinions you would see that I agree…
By GatorRaid
April 10, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
WELL, THE OWNER WAS WARNED LAST YEAR TO MOVE THE CARS AND QUITE TEARING UP THE NEIBORS LAWNS, THEN HE WAS TOLD NOT TO HAVE “VALET PARKING” IN PLAIN VIEW OF THE NEIGHBORS, LET’S NOT MENTION THE web-site ADVERTISING “CDC” “C** Dawg Club” poker house!!!! Also, several weapon charges by felons, and a few felony drug charges go along with this bust…..next time your neighbors complain…:pay them off.”
By mak
April 10, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
R - retrieving O - other’s S - savings W - while E - each L - learns L - lesson
POLICE
It all comes down to money…money…money. Don’t get a speeding ticket in Roswell…my nephew learned his lesson of $250. With this bust just think of how many traffic cameras the city can buy now. A RAID with SWAT team for a complaint about 20 cars! My neighborhood has a Thursday high school function every week with 20-30 cars that speed and honk horns as they leave exactly at 9:30pm disturbing the please and possibly could cause an accident…but do we call the police…NO IT’S SOMETHING NEIGHBORS ENDURE TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. But the name of the game that Roswell plays isn’t poker…it’s the MONEY GAME! PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE and VOTE THEM OUT…TAKE ACTION TO MAKE A REACTION!!!
By HeyMak
April 10, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
Hey Mak, your nephew would not have gotten a ticket at all if he was not speeding and the fact that you live in a neighborhood where 20 or 30 cars can honk their horns etc says a lot for you and your neighborhood, don’t dispense your less than civil, law breaking, low rent views on others as morality, you obviously have little, which is why you live in a low rent neighborhood..It was an ILLEGAL GAMING HOUSE, not a friendly poker game
By TACMAN2
April 10, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this
The ATF, GBI and Dept of Revenue were also in on this raid with us. The complaints were too numerous to avoid. Fulton County D.A. (not local Law Enforcement) office dictates what type cases to prosecute…when it’s thrown in our face and we don’t respond; some “player” ENDS UP ROBBED OR DEAD…THEN THEY WANT TO SUE US….catch-22. Hint: “don’t advertise illegal activity on the freak’n internet”—-fools.
By TACMAN2
April 10, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
The ATF, GBI and Dept of Revenue were also in on this raid with us. The complaints were too numerous to avoid. Fulton County D.A. (not local Law Enforcement) office dictates what type cases to prosecute…when it’s thrown in our face and we don’t respond; some “player” ENDS UP ROBBED OR DEAD…THEN THEY WANT TO SUE US….catch-22. Hint: “don’t advertise illegal activity on the freak’n internet”—-fools.
By mak
April 10, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
NO…it’s not a trailer park! Our homes are $300,000 to $400,000. And a $250 fine for speeding…NO SPEEDING FINE should be this amount! PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE…VOTE THEM OUT! TAKE ACTION TO MAKE A REACTION
By Filbert
April 10, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Hmmmm, let’s see now. Facing felony charges. 25 individuals who will all demand the ala carte Brian Nichols defense. This ought to run Roswell about a cool ten or twenty million in legal fees to defend thse guys. As for criminals, etc., this was in Roswell folks, not South Atlanta. I doubt there’s going to be a home invasion in this subdivision. About the worse that could happen is the pizza delivery guy gets stiffed on the tip. Sheesh! Ridiculous bust. Dear Roswell PD, how many real crimes occurred during your 6 month investigation.
By DJ
April 10, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Anyone who believes it is as simple as calling your rep or starting a petition are kidding yourselves. WAKE UP this country does not belong to the people anymore it belongs to the politician’s! Unless you have some $$ or access to big media. This had to have been some sort of sting or inside information because the city of Roswell would have looked pretty stupid showing up with the SWAT team to break up a 5-10 Texas Hold-em game.
By This for Hey MaK
April 10, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this
The neigborhood that MAK refers to is a $400,000-$500,000 home neighborhood of 16 homes but we try to be neighbors (unlike you) and work out problems rather than reporting to the CORRUPT ROSWELL POLICE. The road that the speeding ticket was given is is at 35 miles an hour and is a major road which is a cash cow for Roswell and if you coast you will go 40miles an hour downhill. It is obvious that you dont live in Roswell or if you do travel through Roswell your time will come. We WILL vote out the greedy officials who are destroying our city I assure you. Your morality is not Christian. Jesus said Let the one without SIN cast the first stone. ROSWELL POLICE will be judged if not by the citzens and State. God will Judge because he knows their greedy little hearts.
By This for Hey MaK
April 10, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
The neigborhood that MAK refers to is a $400,000-$500,000 home neighborhood of 16 homes but we try to be neighbors (unlike you) and work out problems rather than reporting to the CORRUPT ROSWELL POLICE. The road that the speeding ticket was given is is at 35 miles an hour and is a major road which is a cash cow for Roswell and if you coast you will go 40miles an hour downhill. It is obvious that you dont live in Roswell or if you do travel through Roswell your time will come. We WILL vote out the greedy officials who are destroying our city I assure you. Your morality is not Christian. Jesus said Let the one without SIN cast the first stone. ROSWELL POLICE will be judged if not by the citzens and State. God will Judge because he knows their greedy little hearts.
By BrianTenn
April 10, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this
I’m glad to see that the police have decided to start cracking down on white collar crime. It IS a crime to gamble, and these folks are getting what they deserve. The size of the pot doesn’t matter, it’s illegal and should be stopped.
Better for the cops to be busting up gambling rings like this than setting speed traps for me to get busted in.
Brian
By SpecAgent310
April 10, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
Hey! We’re still counting the money from this raid, and the ledger we confiscated is priceless. The house and autos should be available on goverment seizure web-site soon.
New poker hand: a full-house of SWAT over Feds; beats a room full of jokers.
By Peachezz
April 10, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
They were straight balling by “invitation only”
By HeyMak
April 10, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
As a matter of fact, I do live in Roswell, I am over fifty and have never had a speeding ticket, I was not casting stones I was stating facts and I am in full support of you excercising your civic duties, good luck with that
By Gastapo
April 10, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
Funny how anyone can play poker on the internet at home and the police don’t come knocking on your door, Also gambling is legal in the state of GA (see the lottery) The crooks at the capital don’t mind gambling as long as they get a part of the money (what a shock)
By Flop on the River
April 10, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
Let’s see which is worse: A white-collar high stakes poker game or the meth-labs and immigrants on Roswell Road? It think the Roswell police set up their raids at the wrong house. How is this this activity hurting the community? If anything, it encourages our children to get an education and good paying jobs so they can play cards!!!! How many crimes were overlooked as they devoted their 6-months worth of time to this investigation. Thank you for confusing our youth!
By Hotlanta
April 10, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
Shouldn’t these people been home eating dinner, winding down for the night getting ready for WORK the next day. It is Monday night not the weekend. I wonder who the people are. Where are the cameras and reporters talking to these people asking what kind of work do they do whereas they have the time and money to put down $10,000.00 for a game of poker. I guess it is not a crime unless someone is getting shot on the Southside of time. Makes ya wanna go hmmmmmmmmm.
By ScottB
April 10, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this
Two things to add: Clearly running a gambling house is illeagal in this state. Playing poker is not illeagal.
Playing poker for money is illeagal in this state, but is only selectively enforced.
This game was obviously busted primarily due to the amount of $. There are low stakes games going on every night of the week in many neighborhoods nicer than this one, and they are not bothered. I’ve played in several low stakes games where even state “employees” played. Both from a local level and state level.
Personaly, I think it is a tremendous waste of resources and an invasion of privacy. But as I said, it was clearly all about the amount of money involved. It was nicely hyped by the media, and an overly dramatic by the show of force by Roswell and the state - way to instill the fear factor! I’m sure $0.25/$0.50 games all over the state will be shutting down.
I doubt you’ll see any judges games or pd games being busted - and don’t kid yourselves, they enjoy playing just like the rest of us.
By ScottB
April 10, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
Two things to add: Clearly running a gambling house is illeagal in this state. Playing poker is not illeagal.
Playing poker for money is illeagal in this state, but is only selectively enforced.
This game was obviously busted primarily due to the amount of $. There are low stakes games going on every night of the week in many neighborhoods nicer than this one, and they are not bothered. I’ve played in several low stakes games where even state “employees” played. Both from a local level and state level.
Personaly, I think it is a tremendous waste of resources and an invasion of privacy. But as I said, it was clearly all about the amount of money involved. It was nicely hyped by the media, and an overly dramatic show of force by Roswell and the state - way to instill the fear factor! I’m sure $0.25/$0.50 games all over the state will be shutting down.
I doubt you’ll see any judges games or pd games being busted - and don’t kid yourselves, they enjoy playing just like the rest of us.
By VictorCop
April 10, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this
So much crime and so little resources. City Council calls Chief and requests action. Multi-agency temp task force investigation uncovers felons, with drugs at high stakes poker game with web site. Fulton County D/A office gives “green light” to prosecute. Dept of Revenue oversees operation. Overwhelm house with special ops teams, arrest and confiscate. Call NEWS media for press release.—-all in a days work. Who’s next?
By Brady
April 10, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
They should have been playing with “colored toothpicks” and not chips or cash. Then when the cops bust-in, all they get is a “little-wood.”
A little more discretion and less arogance would have kept this game safe.
By Moneybags
April 10, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
Just be glad they didnt raid the big money game I play in sometimes with Braves players in Buckhead. I wonder if that would have made the headlines or been tomahawk chopped under the rug.
By Again
April 10, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
Again, you folks need to be reminded of the facts: —This was not a friendly poker game it was an illegaly Gambling house advertized on the internet —The DA of Fulton county signed of on this JOINT investegation with the AFT and GBI —Along with the gambling weapons and drugs were siezed —The investigation was prompted after citizens brought to the attention of the police street fights, raucus behavior, destruction of private property and child endangerment apparently your soap box is so slippery that you only have time to balance yourself and NOT your facts
By SpecAgent310
April 10, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
It won’t be Roswell that pops your game in Buckhead…..Feds do the “sniffing work” and then send locals sweep-up the trash.
I once heard a story about a “dancer” that got popped for distribution..and rolled over on a “big-game” down south that she “served coctails” at….rats have no honor.
By BossLady
April 10, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
I think the Police should only make arrests when there is a crime against a person/business by another. Prostitution, gambling, lottery and marijuana are adult personal choices and if they get hurt, too bad. No DUIs
By The facts
April 10, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
By Nick
April 10, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
“Along with the gambling weapons and drugs were siezed —The investigation was prompted after citizens brought to the attention of the police street fights, raucus behavior, destruction of private property and child endangerment apparently your soap box is so slippery that you only have time to balance yourself and NOT your facts”
I’d like to know and or see where these “facts” came from. If that is true good for Roswell. It’s just not consistent with the story here on this site.
By Aces Up
April 10, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Again…..Get your facts straight. No weapons or drugs were seized. No street fights or as you so stupidly put it…raucus behavior, destruction of private property and child endangerment. The neighbors complained about the traffic. Maybe you need a soapbox. What an idiot……Got a grandma that gambled do ya?
By Dumbing Down
April 10, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this
Biloxi-Gulfport is waiting for you! And it’s legal! Help the Katrina victims… play to your hearts content and even enjoy the comps. On your way back to Atlanta you can buy a six pack of beer… seven days a week!
By Dumbing Down
April 10, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
Biloxi-Gulfport is waiting for you! And it’s legal! Help the Katrina victims… play to your hearts content and even enjoy the comps. On your way back to Atlanta you can buy a six pack of beer… seven days a week!
By Jesse Jackson
April 10, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Anyone who wants to tell the mayor of Roswell their opinions feel free.
mayorwood@ci.roswell.ga.us
Or the Chief of Police
ewilliams@ci.roswell.ga.us
By Again
April 10, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
Simple, Call the Roswell Police Department, The Fulton County DA, or The GBI for that matter, research public records, or Simply ask someone involved rather than being spoon fed partial truths… and People are free to be as dumb as they want as long as they are not hurting others, but guess what the biggest opposition to gambling is based in FACTUAL STATISTICS of the secondary crime that accompanies gambling. Check the statistics for prostitution, drugs, robbery, burglery etc anywhere near legalized gambling…it is dramatically higher than in other areas…now commmon sense-with that said imagin how high it is apt to be around ILLEGAL gambling. Keep your head in the sand if you choose, debate fact with dischord…or better yet GROW UP
By GatorRaid
April 10, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
You are not aware of the “meth pipe” found by the curb of this house by a neighbor walking her dog….would not have been nice for a school kid to find…maybe(finger prints might match one of our players in our jail)….nor the complaints about “players” backing over mailboxes and driving away or blocking driveways at wierd hours of the night and then never answering the door when you went to complain. If you want to gamble at these stakes, get your state legislators to allow casinos…then you an play 24/7. ——still counting money$$
By Ripdog
April 10, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
Definitely not. This was more than just some boys night out poker game. This is commercial gambling. The people of that neighborhood did not buy houses with the intentions of having a casino within walking distance. This activity draws the scum of the community to a quiet residential neighborhood. Usually where there is illegal gambling, there is more illegal activity. In this case, a significant quantity of cocaine was found.
By To Ripdog and Again
April 10, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
There is no problem zoning areas for different activities, but when the illegal zone for gambling is the entire state your asking for this type of activity in residential areas. Gov’t purpose should not extend to regulating activity’s the no victim. If other laws are broken, such as destruction of property then arrest on those grounds not because people have mutually decided to play poker.
By SpecAgent310
April 10, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
Roswell Police Arrest report number is: 01-07-027557. It is public record and contains the names of the arrested, and the property and “evidence” seized, to include weapons and illegal drugs. It’s the exact same report that will be available to all defense attorneys and at the preliminary hearings. Read it your self “ACES UP”, or let your attorney read it to you.
By Aces Up
April 10, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
Ahh…..I rather go ALL IN! Just what I figured…you are using someone else’s research to make it fit this story. I agree, what they did and where they were doing it was dumb. But please….don’t try and make this into something it’s not. These games go on everywhere. I have yet to hear of a home game causing someones child to molested.
By Again
April 10, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
Hey Aces up, Just to clarify, I know what I know because I am married to a member of the GBI and was told about this over a week ago..how dare you tell me my facts are not straight I believe the foundation of my facts is a lot more sturdy than your knee jerk defenseve conjecture…good day moron
By Aces Up
April 10, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
Ahh…..I rather go ALL IN! Just what I figured…you are using someone else’s research to make it fit this story. I agree, what they did and where they were doing it was dumb. But please….don’t try and make this into something it’s not. These games go on everywhere. I have yet to hear of a home game causing someones child to be molested.
By Aces Up
April 10, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Ahh…..I rather go ALL IN! Just what I figured…you are using someone else’s research to make it fit this story. I agree, what they did and where they were doing it was dumb. But please….don’t try and make this into something it’s not. These games go on everywhere. I have yet to hear of a home game causing someones child to be molested.
By G.G.
April 10, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
I’m a poker player. I mainly play free games in bars, but yes, I do occasionally play for money at home games in Georgia. I am all for home poker games. However, there is a right and wrong way to go about it. This game has been going on every Monday night for 2-3 years according to the AJC article. If there were 20-30 cars parked up and down my street every Monday night, I’d be a bit p** too. Poker itself is certainly a victimless - even when played for cash. Adults have the right to do whatever they want to do with their money. However, the victims here were the neighbors in the neighborhood. The guys running the game got stupid, arrogant and didn’t think anyone would take offense by the perpetual “Monday night parking lot”. I sure would be. Once in a while, fine. Every week, not a chance. A little discretion would have kept your butts out of jail, boys.
P.S. Hey Georgia, Just open a darned casino already!!! Maybe we can actually attract some tourism or convention dollars. Gambling tax revenue? Maybe it would clean up that public crack den called Underground? Hello??? Anyone there???
By Again
April 10, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
The child endangerment was due to a “shuttle” almost mowing down an 11 year old on his bicycle
By My 2 cents
April 10, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
I don’t know all the facts to this story, but to the people who use crime statistics to decide what activities are legal and not legal. Stop trying to live in a bubble world. Are we going to close all bars because people tend to get DUI’s. No, prosecute the people who harm other and leave the other responsible people alone. A felony for gambling (no matter what the amouont) is wrong.
By unclebuck99
April 10, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
By the way I know for a fact they were not playing 10,000 a piece. Good Job cops and AJC way to be on top of it
By Crime Dawg
April 10, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this
So I can’t play poker for 10K per head, but I could buy 10K worth of lottery tickets. Makes total sense.
What a WASTE of resources. I suppose that Roswell hasn’t had any crime OF any kind in a while. Otherwise, what’st the point?
By Question
April 10, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
Could I get a felony for going to a Hold Em tourny with a $10 buy in? I know the cops would never actually enforce a game of this size. I’m just curious what the law is. If that is the case then our politicans are more interested in appeasing some baptist church then doing whats right for society.
By Vegas
April 10, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
I am so glad I live in Vegas. By the way I am going to play cards tonight, and I threw my bible away.
By SpecAgent310
April 10, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this
ACES UP, you lose. It’s not research. I was there last night…I itemized the copy of the search warrant. ;<)
By SpecAgent310
April 10, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
CRIME DAWG, I do believe R.P.D. had other investigations being conducted at the same time. They are quite capable of multi-tasking their city.
By Aces Up
April 10, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this
Good for you Agent 86. I have not lost a damn thing. If You guys are right….good for the cops. If what has been reported is all there is to it….then you are waste of taxpayers money along with everyone else involved with this raid. By the way…I have never needed a lawyer and I don’t plan on it anytime soon. As again so eloquently put it….Good day moron!
By By Who Cares
April 10, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
Roswell Police Rock, NOT!! I know they have nothing else to do. I bet those were the same cops who claimed they pulled my brother over this weekend for speeding away from a green light. 65 in a 35, yeah right, I have a 4 cylinder it takes damn near 30 minutes to go from 0 to 60. Oh and thanks for ripping out the back seat of my car!!
By Wrong Charges
April 10, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
If the police want to give a citation for some kind of distirbance to the community than fine, but leave people alone for gambling. Don’t impose your view of the world on others.
By SpecAgent310
April 10, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this
WOW! ACES UP got called down and lost…too bad. Time for another “buy-in” with common sense. As the AJC will probably unfold, this little casino has been going on for a few years…along with the little “bookie action” on the side. Now when “THE BIG BOYS” from out of town hear about this, they come “a calling” with an offer for a piece of the action…and they always make an offer that an arrogant ace like you would regret refusing. Then it’s not a SWAT team or a citation that you need to worry about….just a medical examiner and a toe-tag. “Sorry to bust up your friends, better luck with seeing “YOU” next time……”ALL IN BUBBA”
By WakeUp America!
April 10, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this
Rise of the police state continues…
http://www.infowars.com/police_state.html#ps
By Finish the Drill
April 10, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
This for Hey MaK, If you are going to quote Jesus, quote the whole story. What did Jesus say to the woman right after what you quoted?
By This for Hey MaK April 10, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this … Your morality is not Christian. Jesus said Let the one without SIN cast the first stone. …
By Trey Parker
April 10, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
The last time I checked the law is the law. Remember that you voted the politicians to back your own public and private agendas. A display of police in the community is what these citizens requested in there neighborhood. If they wanted to gambel, go to Vegas otherwise get ready for the “Soap on the rope” at the jail.
By JM
April 10, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
THIS HAS GOT TO BE A F%$k*N JOKE. They arrested business people that have no prior records and put them in jail for playing cards. I can now sleep better at night knowing that Roswell is a safer city. Lets NOT look past the fact they blew a 6 month investigation of wasted tax payer dollars to put the people that pay those tax payer dollars behind bars. Tell all the Meth Dealers and Child Abusers its safe to move to Roswell, just dont play cards!
By Kononalev
April 10, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
To: WAKE UP AMERICA: If you think THIS is a police state—-just wait until the “HIT-LERY BEAST” gets into office in 2008…when you don’t fork over the tax money she wants or play by one of her cronies game plans……she’ll make this raid look like a picnic.
By Is this the Islamic Republic of GA
April 10, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
Give me a break, giving people felony’s for gambling. I don’t give a darn if it was for 10k. It’s their own $$ and no one was hurt or forced to risk their $$. Let people live free, stop trying to be Mullahs.
By BossLady
April 10, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this
I believe that the Police should only make arrest if crimes against persons/property are committed. Prostitution, Gambling, Lottery are choices by adults and if they get hurt by it them too bad. No DUIs though.
By CL
April 10, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this
Rumor though the grape vine is the $10,000 buy in and the on line reg. is not true. It is a group of guys that play a couple nights a week. Like the paper said people from all walks of life. Must have been an inside informent. Why would the police bust down the door? Somebody must have tipped them off.
By BenGritt
April 10, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this
Gambling isn’t a felony. It’s a misdemeanor. Believe me, I know. But the players that had the weapons and drugs might have a felony problem, and maybe the internet site. There might be more to this story than just the newssplash. Let’s wait and see what else or who else grows out of this. It may be the tip of an iceberg and not just another martini cube. Follow the money and see who tries to keep their name out of this. Just a thought.
By PicaPac
April 10, 2007 5:28 PM | Link to this
I know where DOZENS of these games are in Atlanta. I manage a Casino Gaming Company that hosts mock casinos for clubs and social events. You all have seen them at New Years. If this was a 10K buy-in, they are absolute fools not to have outside security, cameras or look-outs up the street. Not for the police, but for “rip-of” home invasions. 40 cops show up and no one seen them coming?? Blind, deaf and dumb.
By Dawn
April 10, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
High stakes gambling or other “undercover” movement of large amounts of money frequently eventually involves/attracts elements of organized crime. Far from the rosy picture the article paints of Mr. Tyre, another member of that neighborhood told me (I live close by) that at least one neighbor had been actually verbally threatened with financial/business and even personal injury when he approached Tyre months ago warning he’d go to the police if Tyre did not stop inconveniencing neighbors (against zoning ordinances) with the multitude of cars blocking houses and driveways weekly in an otherwise family-friendly neighborhood. Also this house had been owned by the indicted owner of the infamous “Gold Club” strip joint-is there any connection between him and Tyre?
By Wink
April 10, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
Jesus. Are Roswell cops serious??? Let em gamble…who effing cares? Someone at Police HQ must feel PRETTY stupid right about now with all this negative press. Busting poker games is NOT popular with the public! Idiot dumbass police need a realty check.
By rhinaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
April 10, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this
Hey at least it wasn’t as bad as in the opening sequence of Dick Tracy when all the ganstas playin’ poker were executed mafia style. That was a human tragedy. Thanks Roswell Police Department for not spraying anyone with bullets. You are true heroes. May Big Boy and Flat Top (p** be upon them) rot in hell.
By TND
April 10, 2007 6:09 PM | Link to this
GA should legalize gambling and turn the Underground into a casino complex! Not only will the city/state be able to make money off the 1000s of gamblers in GA and surrounding but it will revitalize downtown ATL. Shirley can get all her public works money to redo the sewers, etc with a downtown casino.
By Get Real
April 10, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this
All the boys at Brookstone playing golf and cards for money better look out. The Roswell Police are on the job!
By JSM
April 10, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this
Let’s see if I pull into a gas station and buy beer and a lottery ticket. Then I have state sanctioned alcohol and Gambling…. Great!
Save your money Roswell, fish for bigger more dangerous fish.
By D-Cider
April 10, 2007 6:54 PM | Link to this
The mistake was made when they allowed people to enroll over the internet. And I am not interested in people crying that the cops should be doing busting someone else or whatever. Legalize weed, gambling and prostitution and other victimless crimes. But another bloger was right, who wants to live in this neighborhood and see all those cars over every Monday night. good grief.. some ritzy madame was busted in GA recently, so this is ok by me.
By JB
April 10, 2007 6:56 PM | Link to this
I’m glad to see the law enforced! I see they also found narcotics! Big surprize. I know all you cop-hating, dopers out there don’t like it, but TOUGH SHI†.
I hope the IRS is investigating this guy’s income taxes as well.
By AL G
April 10, 2007 7:05 PM | Link to this
Come on Roswell!! With all of the real criminal activity going on in your city you decided to intrude on someone’s private gathering to take down a few guys playing cards. So what if they were betting money- it’s their money and if they want to blow it on a silly card game then by all means let them. Were they betting kilos of Columbian bam-bam? Did someone run out of $$ and throw out an “evening” with his 11 year old Phillipino son to cover the next hand? If it doesn’t involve the exploitation of children or drugs (that is a whole different ball of wax- in case you were wondering, yes ALL drugs should be legalized, regulated, and taxed) then LEAVE THESE DAMN PEOPLE ALONE AND GO OUT AND CURB VIOLENT CRIME, THEFT, ETC!
By Bob in Acworth
April 10, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this
Here’s how you solve ALL this! Legalize gambling!Legalize DRUGS. The “War on Drugs” is a joke and a killer of innocent little old ladies,amont others!Legalize Prostitution! And tax the stuff out the wazoo! And just remember. When it comes to crime,Uncle Sam HATES competition!
By BS
April 10, 2007 7:15 PM | Link to this
I know almost all those guys because i “attended” those games in the past. A few things you should know. First of all the “buy in” wasnt 10k. These werent degenerates. Depending on what night the police showed up, you would be reading about the arrest of Judges, lawyers, ATLANTA ATHLETES and the like. sure the law was broken, but my issue is how “they” blow the story out of proportion (10k buyins, internet sites). The game is really no different than any poker game you can find by askin your bartender, barber, the sitting next to you as you watch your wives play alta (which i have done), etc. The only difference in this game and several others NIGHTLY in atlanta is that a neighbor complained about the cars (which is why i stoppped). It was doomed to happen.
By jason
April 10, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this
Yep, I used to live in Roswell, my whole life up until about a year ago. I decided I didn’t want to be subjected to Bible belt laws anymore…I’m 33 years old…..and decided to move to Las Vegas…Lan of the Free!!!! If I want to play a game of poker i drive about 3 blocks and play…if I want to buy beer on Sunday the same thing….last call what the hell is that!!!! I don’t do any of those things but by staying in a state filled with holy rollin’ bible thumping antiquated laws that coerce citizens to abide by the values/morals (whatever) lawmakers I’d be supporting all of it. And I DON”T so I moved….I don’t see how any of you have any ground to stand on….year after year Georgia votes down legalized gambling and various other vice laws…all on the premise they cause crime…wrong…if you need proof look at nevada’s economy…oh and by the way I don’t pay state income tax anymore either….we don’t have it in Nevada…no sales tax on food and clothing I could go on forever….don’t tell me you can’t move either I did!!! Sold a house business and started all over again, because i believe in something..FREEDOM…what do y’all believe in?
By TylerDurden
April 10, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this
You’ll find in a few days the 10k buy in report is more than likely bogus. A “freind of a freind” played at that house one time over a year and a half ago while visiting from out of state and bought in for less than $500. He said there were a few “crazies” that were betting all kinds of money, but they were few and far between…but that you could buy in for whatever you wanted to.
Perhaps things have escelated since then…but it would help explain why there was only 45k when 27 people were their…basically innacurate comments by police have lead to innacurate reporting.
It also leads me to wonder if by claiming it was 10k means a higher charge can be asked for. If any lawyers out there know the answer i’d be interested to know.
By Cayo
April 10, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this
Dawn, get you comments in order. There is no connection with Tyre and the owner of the Gold Club, the house was owned by one of the floor managers, stupid.
By JB
April 10, 2007 8:40 PM | Link to this
If this was such an innocent game, why does this “professional” wrestler live there with the “normal” family? He can’t afford his own place?? No, he probably is the so-called muscle for the criminal enterprise. Never done a steroid in his life, I bet. Yeah, yeah, great neighbors to have.
Oh gee, someone isn’t the owner of the Gold Club, but a floor manager. Wow, way off base. Probably no criminal links. Right, stupid?
95% criminals on this blog.
By Poker Player
April 10, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this
I have played in this game and I can tell you the cops are either lying or incompetent. It was never 10k to walk in the door nor was it organized over the web. One guy was promoting an online tourmnament for $100 for a WSOP(World Series of Poker)seat which costs 10k. It was a bunch of guys who knew each other from all walks of life. There may have been a couple of bad apples in the bunch but most of the guys are honest, hard working tax payers who like to play cards. This is a waste of tax dollars and personally invasive. Most of the guys did not even drink or much less use drugs. It is a sad State we live in if people can’t get together and play cards for a little money without the cops acting like the FBI at Wacco. If they spent more time on real crime maybe little girls would not be getting killed going to the store. Maybe, they would not clog up the jails with honest people while pedophiles get slaps on the wrists and are released to harm our children. What an embarrassment for Law Enforcement and the Media for eating up their B.S.
By JB
April 10, 2007 9:13 PM | Link to this
Looks like the bailed out criminals are mad at the cops that arrested them.
Holy smokes, what a surprize! Now a clown (arrestee?) is blaming RPD for something that happened in APD jurisdiction. Brilliant defense. Brilliant.
How about the war in Iraq? Surely you can draw a parallel to that?
By Poker Player
April 10, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this
JB, He has lived there for years. The owner of the place and him are good friends. You should apply for a job with the Roswell Police Dept.
By pokerATL
April 10, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
Tyler, Great comment, but first full disclosure. I have been a regular at the “Monday” game in question for 3 years..9 out of 10 sessions I was there. I was extremely lucky to have plans that missed the raid by a mere 15 minutes.
Because of my intimate knowledge of the game, I was able to see first-hand how the police can spoon-feed the media embellished information to over-zealous reporters more concerned with making the six-o-clock livecast than doing any fact finding whatsoever. As many have said the 10K buy-in was grossly exaggerated and completely misinterpreted – the facts are the police began sifting through Tyre’s trash (see warrant) and found of all things, a Bluff magazine (poker literature), an inordinate amount of food and beverage containers, and (hold your breath) a flyer promoting an online tournament that one of the regulars was passing out to garner interest in a World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event seat that was being given away by an online poker site. Unbelievably, the Roswell police interpreted this WSOP flyer and the seat valued at $10,000 begin given away as a promotional prize as a buy-in to the live game being hosted by Tyre. This mistake in reporting to the media is reprehensible. When the police were pressed on this fuzzy math (i.e. $45,000 seized by RPD, 10K buy in per player should equal 270K) issue by a reporter, the Roswell Sergeant commented that the investigation was still ongoing…as if some money would suddenly re-appear that they didn’t find after destroying Tyre’s house for 5 hours.
There have also been numerous comments made that in essence a home poker game amongst friends is OK, but when it begins to spill over to a “parking lot” then that’s crossing the line. These parking complaints came from primarily one vocal neighbor who had it out for Tyre – if you don’t believe me listen to the comments from Mary Hager his elderly next door neighbor and how she describes Tyre and his wife. There were never any noise complaints and Tyre was extremely respectful and consciousness of his neighbors (oftentimes moving cars if they became too close to a neighbors driveway).
I knew 26 of the 27 players arrested on a first name basis. We watch sports together, travel, and yes play cards. I wish all of you knew this group of guys like I do…in 3+ years there has not been as much as a shouting match between us.
I talked to Tyre’s wife today – she said that what disturbed her the most was holding her 11 month old and watching her front door be bashed in and told to “get on her knees” by a shouting SWAT officer in a dark hood, goggles, and M-16…was this show of force necessary because of knowledge of a card game going on in the basement? Give me a break. After this display of man/fire power not one weapon of any kind was found inside the house (yes, two legally owned guns were found in the impounded cars outside). Instead, they found a highly cooperative group of harmless people who had poker chips in front of them. This investigation was based on bad intelligence and a desperate police force who was willing to pick thru trash (the same tactic used to seize warrants for drug dealers and pedophiles) to shut down Tyre.
By JB
April 10, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this
Yeah, I always like to have a 39yo male living with my family. It’s “normal.”
And while we’re at it, let’s conduct a criminal enterprize.
By JB
April 10, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this
OH MY GOSH! The bad police officers intruded on poor Mrs. Criminal’s space!!!
They obviously should have knocked politely, patted junior on the head, kissed new mommy on the cheek!
Obviously there wouldn’t be any possiblilty of WEAPONS at a high-stakes criminal enterprise! They should just trust criminals to be “cool” in every situation. After all, they’re just cops. They’re lives are meaningless.
By Poker Player
April 10, 2007 9:54 PM | Link to this
JB, You equate poker players with criminals and say that their lives are meaningless. I would hate to see what you would do to jaywalkers or a serious crime like a parking ticket. Forget the RPD, you should run for Governor.
By JB
April 10, 2007 9:59 PM | Link to this
And another thing, while I’m on here. When you groovy suburban “citizens” buy your pot, coke, etc. you are criminals.
You contribute to the killing of judges, police officers, innocent people, all the way from the source to your neighborhood. You undermine entire governments and decency so you can have your illegal act.
You people make me sick!
By BS
April 10, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this
JB, reverse your letters and blow us
By Sigh
April 10, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
Give me a break pokerATL. You’re paranoid. You ridicule the same SWAT officers that could also save your life….not that I would. Adjust your pacifier, sir. You’re in dire need of it.
By Sigh
April 10, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this
Give me a break pokerATL. You’re paranoid. You ridicule the same SWAT officers that could also save your life….not that I would. Adjust your pacifier, sir. You’re in dire need of it.
By Sigh
April 10, 2007 10:37 PM | Link to this
Poor Tyre’s wife and 11 month old…I’m sure it reminded the spoiled suburban housewife of life in Iraq. Another quality example of where our focus is.
By Sigh
April 10, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this
Poor Tyre’s wife and 11 month old…I’m sure it reminded the spoiled suburban housewife of life in Iraq. Another quality example of where our focus is.
By Sigh
April 10, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this
My apologies pokerATL…..I overlooked what you said about police using an M-16……….sorry, I’ll stop laughing in a bit….and I’m not even a cop, but please do society a favor when savoring your melodramatic side and at least get the weapon right……even more proof that you don’t know what the Hell you’re talking about most of the time. Cripes!!
By volstar
April 10, 2007 11:00 PM | Link to this
Is that the SWAT team that shot the old woman in her home ?
Let’s see, gambling is illegal unless it is: a state lottery, or an Indian resevation, on a riverboat, dog racing, horse racing, or church bingo. Ummm makes sense to me.
By Sigh
April 10, 2007 11:07 PM | Link to this
Yes, volstar, try and link the Roswell SWAT team to the hideous action of the Atlanta Red Dog unit (not a SWAT team) to that of what transpired today…not even close….although I strongly agree with you in reference to racing, gambling, etc.
By pokerATL
April 10, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this
I would hope police officers can use some common sense and adequately assess a situation given the firepower their armed with. Lets see…a woman holding a baby in the kitchen of her low crime, suburbia neighborhood does not seem to pose much of a threat to a SWAT team. Cops like JB get all amp’d up with adrenaline before a big bust to only be disappointed when the raid doesn’t have the feel of a war zone.
Sigh - go to the local newscasts on the poker raid and listen to the Roswell camera hound, I mena Sergeant and you tell me who is being mellodramatic…I love when he says this is the worst gambling operation I’ve seen in 27 years…what a joke.
By ALL-IN-JIM
April 11, 2007 7:20 AM | Link to this
I’ve played at this game, and dozens like it in the Atlanta area. I make my living filching fish like this. The buy-in was never 10K, not even last week when I played. I passed this game this week for a bigger one at a country club. The buy-in for a “sattellite” game is 10K. I win $400-500 a night, at least 4-5 nights a week. It’s great cash income and no taxes; I love it. I’ve never seen any weapons or drugs at these games, but some of the players show up “pretty stoned or stupid” at times, which just increases my odds of winnng more pot$. You’ll NEVER shut down all these games. You’ll just make them go deeper underground and be more discreet. Prohibition was a bad idea too; but it made a lot of people a lot of $$$$. Hey, do you think the attorney’s that were arrested in this game will represent themselves, or each other? See ya at the cash cage.
By MightyMO
April 11, 2007 7:28 AM | Link to this
For Sale: High stakes poker tables, slightly used. Nice felt tops, cup holders and cushioned edges. All brass chip try holder, autographed by Atlanta Professional Athletes. Perfect for the home-basement family casino, or second income. Slight “high-heel” marks from rowdy dancers, but still a great buy….must sell to pay legal fees. Anybody know where I can find a friendly 20-40 HOLD’EM game??
By savannah
April 16, 2007 6:42 PM | Link to this
yes they over reacted… is this what they are wasting my tax dollars on… FYI there was a dead totaler found and a multiple teens murdered that same day but the police think that it’s more important to spend 6 months, countless hours and tax dollars on a victim less crime… I would bet 10K that there isn’t a police station ANYWHERE that doesn’t have a deck of cards in it!!! I mean really… what am I paying for… criminals to have 3 square meals with full medical treatment, single women to mother children by multiple fathers, and the cops doing a fabulous job of keeping pro athletes, lawyers and a couple of guys from Macon off of the streets… OH WAIT… they weren’t on the streets they were in the privacy of someone home, and no one was hurt, being hurt, causing damage to anything or anyone… GOOD JOB law enforcement of Roswell, way to waste our tax dollars…