TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

2 Arrested In Polk Video Slot Arcade Bust

ADVERTISEMENT

By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2007

Video: Deputies Raid The Palms Redemption Arcade

LAKELAND - It looks innocent enough, just another storefront in a busy south Lakeland strip mall, nestled right between "Nail Boutique" and "Lynn's Fish 'n Pets."

But Polk County Sheriff's Office vice detectives say The Palms Redemption Arcade has been operating as an illegal gambling house full of video slot machines since it opened about two months ago. This afternoon, they arrested the owner of the business, Janet Bruggeman, 55, and her husband Joseph, 52.

They face one felony count of operating a gaming house and 46 misdemeanor counts for possession of the video slot machines. No one else has been charged, but Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said the investigation isn't complete.

He said detectives are interested in who supplied the machines, which were stacked close to one another in rows inside the arcade, at 5315 S. Florida Ave. in Lakeland.

Judd said the machines would be seized and destroyed. No patrons will be charged.

The business, though billing itself as an arcade, had no nongambling video games and was restricted to customers older than 21, Judd said.

Players bought a debit card for use with the machines. The card kept track of wins and losses. But Judd and detectives said the business would only redeem the cards for cash or on a credit card if winnings totaled more than $50. Otherwise, customers were told to hold onto the card and use it again the next time they played.

The Bruggemans said they thought their operation was legal, Judd said.

"You would think they would have looked and wondered why they were the only operation of this kind in the county," Judd said, adding, "If they would have just called us ahead of time to ask, we could have saved them a lot of time and money."

The Bruggemans did not have any comment when deputies walked them to a waiting patrol car with television and newspaper cameras rolling.

Judd and Polk prosecutors have long focused intently on keeping adult businesses, particularly sex-related businesses, out of Polk County. They often have used arrests to gain leverage over the owners and operators and businesses to shutter them.

Today, Judd suggested he's more interested in getting "compliance" from the Bruggemans and sending a message to would-be gambling houses than in throwing the book at them.

"The message is don't come to Polk and violate the law, or we'll put you in jail," he said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT