Florida Poker Playing Deputy Gets Suspended Following Police Tip-Off
December 31, 2009 11:17 amActing on unreliable information, police officers raiding a clubhouse of the Cabana West had to be content with busting up a poker game game, instead of uncovering the den of inequity they were expecting.
The tip off to the Panama City Beach Police Department came via the Ebro Greyhound Park, which features a greyhound racing track, two restaurants and twenty-two poker games. The Ebro officials apparently contacted the police department claiming that some of their ex-dealers were organising an illegal poker game and that drugs, weapons and felons would all be found on site.
The one part of the tip off that did ring true, was that a game of poker was indeed taking place and organised by ex-Ebro dealers. The rest of the information seemed to be way off the mark, though, as the 10 men discovered were neither felons nor were found to be carrying any drugs or weapons.
The most interesting find to come out of the raid was that Deputy James Lanier (28) and an undercover informant were sitting in on the game. The upshot of the whole police investigation was no arrests, and the issuing of verbal warnings to those present not to deal in any illegal activities in future.
Most of the players, in fact, confessed to the police as not knowing the poker game qualified as illegal under Florida Statutes. Unfortunately for Deputy James Lanier, his ignorance of the law wouldn’t wash so easy and he found himself being suspended from duty without pay, while officials decide his ultimate fate.
“The sheriff does hold deputies to a higher level of accountability,” commented Maj. Tommy Ford.
After the storm in a tea cup died down, Ebro officials would only say: “Ebro does not condone any illegal activity especially any illegal gambling activity and we support any efforts the police have to stop that activity.”
However, Maj. David Humphreys of the Panama City Beach Police Department likened the whole affair to ‘an officer observing someone driving 60 mph in a 55 mph zone.’