Published: August 21, 2008 07:22 am      

Video poker machines seized in Burnside

Local News

Keeping a dozen video poker machines inside a Burnside business turned out to be an unwise gamble, as Burnside Police made a raid on a local gas station yesterday.

According to Officer Phillip Woodall of the Burnside Police Department, a tip was received from Fifth District Constable Mike Wallace about a number of video gambling devices being kept in the back of Hampton’s Service Center, located across from the Goodie Shack on South U.S. 27.

Burnside Officer Mike Hill began an investigation which involved sending in an undercover agent to receive a couple of payoffs from the machines. Officer Hill got a search warrant, which was executed yesterday. As many as 12 illegal video poker machines were seized, along with a large of sum of cash.

The business’ owner, Harold Hampton, was not arrested, but Woodall said he expected authorities would follow up with other warrants and a grand jury decision.

“(Hampton) had only been in the station a few weeks,” said Woodall, noting that Hampton’s station recently moved from its old location across from the former Seven Gables Inn, “but he had (the machines) at the other station too.”

Assisting in the investigation and seizure were Constable Wallace and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.