We can add the Alcoholic Beverage Control bureau to the list.
It’s the latest law enforcement agency to take on a potential case (or in this case, “cases”) of alleged illegal gambling in our area.
The investigations in Bedford County and Altavista seem totally unrelated to the Internet cafe raids Roanoke County police spearheaded on April 15th.
This seems to be one of those areas of law enforcement police get hit with in waves.
Now it’s important to remember here that no charges have been filed and none may be forthcoming, according to how each investigation goes.
I’ve also gotten the “don’t they have anything better to do?” comment from several of you already.
Well bottom line, my police sources tell me, is an investigation into alleged criminal activity is an investigation into alleged criminal activity—- albeit a murder, shoplifting, or illegal gambling.
I remember one cop friend of mine asking me last week—- if you came upon an abandoned house fire, would you just pass it by without asking any questions?
Short answer is no.
As a journalist it’s my job to investigate any potential story.
For police it’s the same way.
Now similar cases have led to acquittals in Danville and decisions not to press charges in Roanoke city but the investigators that’ll talk to me involved in these latest alleged gambling cases tell me when someone complains about potential crime in their areas, then they go to work.
Posted by Scott Leamon at 06:19 PM. Filed under: leamon •
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