A three-month investigation by police into illegal gambling has led to one misdemeanor drug arrest so far, though warrants are expected to be issued, police said.
According to a press release issued by the Warsaw Police Department, detectives of the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and WPD served a search warrant at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Downtown Eatery and Spirits.Patrons were told to leave and the doors were locked while the establishment was searched by police. The press release states that "evidence of unlawful gambling and promoting professional gambling was found in the bar area of the tavern at the time of the warrant service."
Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter said that he would "be out of place by saying ownership knew about it."
Downtown co-owner Tom Clemens, referring to restaurant customers and employees, said, "I'm very disappointed that people who had nothing to do with this were embarrassed."
Employees of the Downtown, not targets of the investigation, were inside during the search.
The press release said a three-month investigation led police to believe that an employee was conducting illegal gambling as a bartender, by offering parlay cards.
Parlay cards are sheets of paper containings lists of pro or college football games. The games are handicapped with point spreads and over/under totals. The parlay card user picks winners of the games and wagers money on those picks.
As of press time today, no one had been arrested on gambling-related charges.
Hunter said today detectives are still looking over evidence and that warrants may be issued next week. Hunter declined to state who might be charged.
Hunter said a complaint was filed by a former employee of the Downtown.
Hunter said that, since the gambling was taking place across the street from the county justice building, where the county prosecutor's office is located, it was "more or less rubbing our noses in it."
Hunter said he didn't think that those who bet on gambling, even possible city or county employees, would be investigated.
Hunter said he didn't think those whose names appeared on parlay cards found during the search would be investigated.
Those names included "prominent people" in the community, he said.
"I'm pretty black and white when it comes to this type of thing," Hunter said. "If it's legal, I say go for it. But if it's illegal and we know about it, we have to pursue it. We want the community to know this type of thing isn't going to be tolerated."
Undercover officers were used to place cash wagers on college and professional football games at the bar. The press release also states that "allegations were also supported that bets were being taken via telephone."
During the search of the apartment above the Downtown, police said they found betting sheets, more commonly known as parlay cards, and evidence of marijuana sales.
The only arrest from Tuesday's raid was of Nathan Douglas Huffer, 31, of 205 W. Center St., who was working at the Downtown at the time.
He was arrested for possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor, and booked into Kosciusko County Jail on a $455 bond.
Clemens said he felt the investigation and subsequent search of his restaurant was heavy handed.
"I think it's a misplaced sense of priorities. Who's the victim here? I think a business can be a victim, too," Clemens said.
"They came in here at 5 p.m., told my customers to finish, pay up and leave. They locked the doors during the dinner hour for over an hour and searched every corner of the business," he said.
"A three-month investigation into young men betting on football? Imagine that."
Clemens said his employees were told never to bring parlay cards into his business.
"If a guy comes in here with $20 to spend, do you think I want him to spend $10 of it betting on football?
"I've tried to run a clean, upstanding restaurant in this town and I feel like I've been disrepected by the local police over the complaint of a disgruntled former employee," Clemens said.
