Truly Sad!!

[Thanatos340 1]

For the past few Years, I have been playing at various Friendly Poker Games around Atlanta. Poker (or Any Type of Gambling) is Illegal in Georgia but the weekly buddies getting together for a game of cards is about as small of a petty crime as I can Imagine. Here is a first hand account of what happened to one Game I used to play in this past weekend (It would be Funny if it were not true):

Quote

I wish to extend a hearty bravo to the Gwinnett County Police department for
the great job they did Saturday shutting down the dangerous low-limit poker game
in their county. No doubt the 21 officers (deployed in full SWAT gear) were
stunned at the lack of resistance put up by the motley assortment of two dozen
lawyers, brokers, engineers, and the occasional wife/girlfriend. By all
accounts, the players at the game simply laid quietly on the floor as the police
(hidden behind ninja masks) brandied their assault rifles, stepped on the
occasional player, and screamed that one @$!#ing twitch would get the offender
shot dead .

One could imagine the officers sitting around after the bust and querying, Man
What kind of poker players were these? Yeah, they didn t even put up the
resistance found in the typical Crack Den. Did you see the way that lady cried
when I stomped on her hand geez she cried like a like a girl! In defense
of the players inaction, they may have been intimidated by the way the two
dozen officers smashed in the front door and streamed into the private home.
Undoubtedly, if the officers had allowed time to open the front door, the
players would have been more brazen and a bona fide blood-bath would have
ensued.

As it turned out, a lone officer with a writing utensil and a notepad could have
handled the whole thing. Alas, apparently no pens were available, so the police
were forced to rely on their somewhat less wieldy AR-15s. As one officer noted
at the crime scene "Man - can you believe there is this many people here and not
one of 'em was holding anything?" [Disappointingly, the police did not find a
single player in possession of any drugs, weapons, etc. - nonetheless, they were
determined to justify the taxpayer's expense associated with the "sting"
operation.]

Wisely, the officers left no wiggle room in the plastic & metal cuffs they
used to bind each player. True believers in the if you ain t bleeding, it ain
t tight enough theory, the officers left the deadly criminals bound throughout
the 3+ hour arrest. As a side note, props to the honest gentleman who, after
cuffing the last of the suspects, admiringly fondled the Paulson top hat & cane
chips used at the game while telling a fellow officer Hey man look at this
REAL clay chips we need these in OUR game . Further props to the officers
video-interviewing the suspects, who gave randomly inaccurate information about
what would happen in Jail, once they loaded everyone into the transports. In
addition to bagging the house cash and chips as evidence, the agents boldly
removed any cash in players pockets and wallets. Frankly, if the cash were to
be distributed among the officers after the bust, who could say they did not
earn this untaxable bonus, with their brave heroics Saturday night.

Congratulations are also in order for the Gwinnett County Department of
Corrections. These hardworking under compensated laborers rarely have the
chance to exercise their power over a group of white-collar professionals and
they did a great job capitalizing on the opportunity.

Inferior departments might be satisfied with simply verbally abusing the
detainees; ensuring they remain sleepless, dehydrated and hungry; refusing to
process them for the first 20+ hours; and keeping them all standing
shoulder-to-shoulder in an unventilated holding cell decorated by human fecal
matter. But Gwinnett County really went the extra mile to demonstrate their
contempt for the prisoners. They wanted to ensure that the incarceration period
would be unique and unforgettable for all involved, lest the inmates enjoy the
experience so much that they lose their fear of prison (and progress to even
worse offenses like speeding 57MPH in a 55MPH zone, or tearing the Do not
remove labels off of mattresses).

Notable quotes from the All Night-All Day-All Night event included:

We will process you in about 2-3 hours [Commitment made every four hours or
so, for 2 days, when inmates would ask how much longer until the booking would
occur and the detainees would be charged with something or released.]

Yeah, none of the phones in that cell work. We might be able to get it fixed
on Monday but this is the weekend. [Officer s response to concerns about the
inability to contact anyone for bail]

Shut up @#$!head. A Phone Call? We provide the phone, its up to you to
complete the call [Officer s response to final pleas for a working phone, or
help contacting spouses that remained ignorant of the bust and were frantically
contacting hospitals]

Look out that window again and I will crack your head. Don t any of you look
out that @#$#ing window. You have 4 hours to make bond or you go to general
population [Apparently windows in cells are only for looking in not out]

So tell the doctor [Officer s response to a diabetic inmate s request for
insulin]
So tell the doctor [Officer s response 1 hour later when asked the same
question. The officer was the only individual with access to the doctor]

Lastly, honorable mention goes to the phone operator at the jail, for gems like
this one: Yeah, your husband is here and waiting for bond. Why didn t he call
you? Well I m sure he would rather be in that cell than with you!
[Response to woman that figured out what had happened to her husband, contacted
the correct jail, and wondered aloud why her husband had not been able to make a
phone call]

Overall, a job well done by Danny Porter, Gwinnett County s District Attorney.
He has made our streets safer and has inspired a number of the more affluential
citizens of his county to become far more involved in local politics.

Glad to see the Tax Payers Money spent so Wisely!!

[AggieDave 6]

Oh man, a lawyer is going to have a field day with this one.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Sh*T you have got to be kidding!!! I hope they do an investigation. Bullsh*t like that has got to go.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[kinney29 0]

Here in Indy, a similiar situation occured at a game I regularly attend, however, they just issued tickets to everyone their and those were all paid by the host for the evening.

This situation is truly sad, and I'm sure multiple lawsuits will be filed if indeed all of this is in fact true.

[ScubaSteve 0]

Sounds like something that happens every day in IL.

[rickjump1 0]

How did they find you? Sounds like they had some information. Sorry it happened.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[SkiD_PL8 0]

Before I moved I played quite a bit of small poker tournaments in my home town. This problem is easily remedied by having 1 or 2 of the local cops or even better the sheriff play in these games, they keep you out of trouble and tend to lose a lot of money . All in all that is total BS if all of that really went down the way the author says it did there will surely be some cops on extended leave without pay or without jobs period especially if it was a classier game with local lawyers and doctors.

Greenie in training.

[DrunkMonkey 0]

Quote

Sounds like something that happens every day in The Peoples' Republic of IL.

Fixed it for you.

[justinb138 0]

I would love to hear what they told the judge to get a warrant for that one.

[JohnRich 4]

News story apparently related to this event, from the Atlanta Journal Constipation:

Raid nets 23 gambling suspects

Published on: 03/02/05

A weekend raid on an alleged gambling house netted 23 suspects and $17,231 in cash, police said Tuesday.

An attorney for two of the suspects called it a friendly poker tournament.

Officers from the county's Multi-Agency Drug Task Force burst into a house on Spring Mill Cove in Duluth about midnight Saturday, officials said.

Police arrested 16 players on misdemeanor gambling charges, said Officer Darren Moloney, Gwinnett police spokesman. Bond was set at $1,000 each. Another five suspects were charged with commercial gambling, a felony. Bonds for the five, who police said included dealers, a hostess and a worker cleaning the house, ranged from $5,000 to $25,000.

One of the felony suspects was identified as Maurice Moultrie, who was providing armed security, according to an arrest warrant. Moloney confirmed that Moultrie, who lives in College Park, is a Fulton County deputy. His bond was set at $15,000.

Two suspects, Michael Gordon Rolader and Eli Nelson-Heath, each face a misdemeanor charge of keeping a gambling house as well as one commercial gambling charge. Rolader's bond was set at $30,000 and Nelson-Heath's at $20,000.

The two men's attorney, Troy Hendrick of Decatur, issued a statement saying, "This is nothing more than a lot of friends playing poker tournaments."

* * *

So I wonder what their probable cause consists of for believing that there were drugs in the house?

[superman0710 0]

these guys were doing something illegal, got caught, and complain?! bwhahah


And as for them complaining about the cuffs and the method of the "sting/takedown". As an officer/agent, the scariest moment of your life comes when you're about to knock down a door and don't know who or what is on the other side. You want to get in and secure everyone as quickly as possible.

Remember, the officers only know there is an ILLEGAL (albeit a minor crime) instance of gambling going on with an unknown amount of suspects inside. They also have no clue whether they're armed or not.

As for the other accusations "we need these chips for our set", "the emptying of wallets". i wasn't there so i can't comment. But obviously, if true, it would be inappropriate behavior.

[kingbunky 3]

i don't think it was so much the bust (from what i have read), but more the treatment afterwards that will bring about the lawsuits.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[Dougiefresh 0]

Quote

Bonds for the five, who police said included dealers, a hostess and a worker cleaning the house, ranged from $5,000 to $25,000.

So how is the guy holding the mop a criminal? Cuz he was there?

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams

[Thanatos340 1]

Quote

And as for them complaining about the cuffs and the method of the "sting/takedown". As an officer/agent, the scariest moment of your life comes when you're about to knock down a door and don't know who or what is on the other side. You want to get in and secure everyone as quickly as possible.

How long should it take you to realize that this Upper Middle Class home you Just Raided is occupied purely by well dressed completely unarmed Stock Brokers, Accountants, Engineers and Georgia Tech Students?

Certainly after you searched them and realized that NOT a SINGLE person has any weapon or Drugs or anything remotely dangerous, it may be safe to loosen the cuffs just a little??

These people were left on the Floor in Zip Ties for 3 Hours!! And then held without a phone call or being processed for 20+ Hours. For Playing POKER!!

Quote

As for the other accusations "we need these chips for our set", "the emptying of wallets". i wasn't there so i can't comment. But obviously, if true, it would be inappropriate behavior.

The best games in town are of course run by Cops. If you can ever get an invite to one of their games, you have it made!

Don’t get me wrong, I have no grief with Honest Cops but what these People did was Ridiculous.

During the Three Hours that the 25 Cops were holding these Hardened Criminals at Gun Point, I wonder exactly how many Burglaries, Car Thefts, Rape and Murders (this is Atlanta after all) happened around the city and could any of those have been stopped with an extra 25 Cops on Patrol?

Now the Tax Payers Get to pay the Bills to try prosecute these Hardened Criminals.

You what would worked a little better?? The DA or sheriffs dept could have sent a letter to the guy hosting game saying "Stop" and he would have shit in his pants and never hosted another game. (I know this guy, typical Accountant type weenie [Seinfeld Voice] NOT That there is anything wrong with that [/Seinfeld Voice]). A little more cost effective and practical in my mind.

[superman0710 0]

Quote

How long should it take you to realize that this Upper Middle Class home you Just Raided is occupied purely by well dressed completely unarmed Stock Brokers, Accountants, Engineers and Georgia Tech Students?

Certainly after you searched them and realized that NOT a SINGLE person has any weapon or Drugs or anything remotely dangerous, it may be safe to loosen the cuffs just a little??
These people were left on the Floor in Zip Ties for 3 Hours!! And then held without a phone call or being processed for 20+ Hours. For Playing POKER!!

i wish i could show you a video they use for training. (it's for government purposes only, so i can't)

a man IN A POLICE STATION HOLDING ROOM (obviously after having being searched) in uncuffed. The officer steps into another room for a second. At this point the suspect pulls a loaded .45 caliber pistol out of his groin area and puts the gun in his mouth and blows himself away. Luckily this man was only selfish enough to take his own life and not one of an officer.

The point is that complacency is the first thing that gets you killed in the line of duty. I'm sorry but these guys reaped what they sowed. If they had to sit in handcuffs for 3 hours, so be it. Don't want to..? Don't gamble illegaly.
Hindsight is 20/20 and we NOW know these guys were decent citizens who made a mistake with their gambling. But like i said, an officer has no clue who you are or what you may have in mind.

Self-preservation is rule #1 in the field.

[justinb138 0]

Quote

Quote

How long should it take you to realize that this Upper Middle Class home you Just Raided is occupied purely by well dressed completely unarmed Stock Brokers, Accountants, Engineers and Georgia Tech Students?

Certainly after you searched them and realized that NOT a SINGLE person has any weapon or Drugs or anything remotely dangerous, it may be safe to loosen the cuffs just a little??
These people were left on the Floor in Zip Ties for 3 Hours!! And then held without a phone call or being processed for 20+ Hours. For Playing POKER!!

i wish i could show you a video they use for training. (it's for government purposes only, so i can't)

a man IN A POLICE STATION HOLDING ROOM (obviously after having being searched) in uncuffed. The officer steps into another room for a second. At this point the suspect pulls a loaded .45 caliber pistol out of his groin area and puts the gun in his mouth and blows himself away. Luckily this man was only selfish enough to take his own life and not one of an officer.

The point is that complacency is the first thing that gets you killed in the line of duty. I'm sorry but these guys reaped what they sowed. If they had to sit in handcuffs for 3 hours, so be it. Don't want to..? Don't gamble illegaly.
Hindsight is 20/20 and we NOW know these guys were decent citizens who made a mistake with their gambling. But like i said, an officer has no clue who you are or what you may have in mind.

Self-preservation is rule #1 in the field.

So an officer is justified in yanking me through my car window taking me down and cuffing me when I get pulled over for an expired inspection sticker?

[superman0710 0]

serving an arrest warrant is not analagous to a routine traffic stop ( even though an officer should still be vigilant [read: NOT PARANOID] ) during a traffic stop.

[justinb138 0]

Quote

serving an arrest warrant is not analagous to a routine traffic stop ( even though an officer should still be vigilant [read: NOT PARANOID] ) during a traffic stop.

While I agree that they should be vigilant in all their duties, given the nature of the accused crimes (gambling), and the people involved (none of which probably had a criminal record), the area in which they were going (a home, as opposed to the basement of some mob-run club) it would seem that the actions of the police went well beyond what was necessary. Major overkill.

[superman0710 0]

Quote

Quote

serving an arrest warrant is not analagous to a routine traffic stop ( even though an officer should still be vigilant [read: NOT PARANOID] ) during a traffic stop.

While I agree that they should be vigilant in all their duties, given the nature of the accused crimes (gambling), and the people involved (none of which probably had a criminal record), the area in which they were going (a home, as opposed to the basement of some mob-run club) it would seem that the actions of the police went well beyond what was necessary. Major overkill.

it's impossible for us to come to an agreement here because i have a subjective point of view. Once that warrant has been issued and you are under arrest, you have forfeited all civil liberties (read: not your constitutional liberties) Until those men are secured in a cell, i'm not comfortable.

[turtlespeed 226]

Perhaps we should introduce the lawmakers from Tennesee to these guys - Maybe they can even get branded as Terrorists, if and when this episode gets written about -

DOH!

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[flyhi 24]

Quote

I'm sorry but these guys reaped what they sowed.

Do you hang out at the dropzone after sunset? If so, do those around you know how you feel? I'm sure they would respect your feelings, they just need to know what they are.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[Thanatos340 1]

I have seen the Video you are talking about. Someone CLEARLY did not do their job when searching that guy.

I understand how dangerous a Job Cops have and sympathize with MOST of them, But what happened here was bunch of Red Necks on a Power Trip wasting the Tax Payers Money and Abusing Private Citizens in their own home under the guise of "Law Enforcement". Yep, They were breaking the law, They were playing that evil POKER, Next thing you know someone might have check-raised and caused someone else to say a Swear Word (Also against the Law here, I am sure that justifies a SWAT TEAM with AR-15`s in the face too. Or someone may have won a little money and when he got home talked his wife into having sex in a non-missionary position - A felony in this state, How many cops should we send with AR-15`s to take them Down?).The entire thing was just plain STUPID. A Complete waste of the Cities Resources.

Again: How Many Real Crimes (Ones that actually have Victims) could have been prevented with an extra 25 Police on Patrol during the hours of Midnight and 3 AM on a Saturday Night in Atlanta GA?

I agree with self preservation, But I also think that anyone you Give a Badge and Gun to should have at least a little common sense and the ability to use it.

[justinb138 0]

Quote

Quote

Quote

serving an arrest warrant is not analagous to a routine traffic stop ( even though an officer should still be vigilant [read: NOT PARANOID] ) during a traffic stop.

While I agree that they should be vigilant in all their duties, given the nature of the accused crimes (gambling), and the people involved (none of which probably had a criminal record), the area in which they were going (a home, as opposed to the basement of some mob-run club) it would seem that the actions of the police went well beyond what was necessary. Major overkill.

it's impossible for us to come to an agreement here because i have a subjective point of view. Once that warrant has been issued and you are under arrest, you have forfeited all civil liberties (read: not your constitutional liberties) Until those men are secured in a cell, i'm not comfortable.

True. I don't have any experience as a LEO, and my view might change if I did. Also, given their education, they should have been smart enough to know that it was a crime, the possible consequences of it, and should not have done it.

I'm not going to comment on the accusations of the treatment of the people after the arrest, because at this point, they're just accusations.

[diablopilot 2]

Quote

i wish i could show you a video they use for training. (it's for government purposes only, so i can't)

You mean this one?

http://www.consumption-junction.com/content/detail.asp?ID=41473&type=1&page=1&fav=0

that we already talked about here?

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1411927;search_string=police%20station;#1411927

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[superman0710 0]

Quote

Quote

i wish i could show you a video they use for training. (it's for government purposes only, so i can't)

You mean this one?

http://www.consumption-junction.com/content/detail.asp?ID=41473&type=1&page=1&fav=0

that we already talked about here?

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1411927;search_string=police%20station;#1411927

yes, that's the video.
you'll have to pardon me if i was unaware this video has been discussed here. (considering i registered 2 weeks ago)

when we obtained our files along with the clip of the video we were instructed to view it in the strictest of confidentiality. unfortunately, the video has obviously been leaked ( or publicly exposed for all i know ). I'm just going by what i was ordered.