SCOTT — A popular bar was raided in the early
morning hours Friday, and eight people were
arrested for playing Texas HoldEm and charged with
gambling.
Lafayette City Police officers went to Shannon on
Congress, in the 4800 block of West Congress
Street, at 3:15 a.m., according police reports.
Cpl. Mark Francis of city police said Friday
afternoon that he had no details on the raid, and
an employee at Shannon gave no information.
But David Creed, 42, of Lafayette, one of those
arrested, said the game was legal and that no
alcohol was being served. Creed said he is not
sure how he will deal with the charge against him,
but he feels the arrests were in error.
“What made it legal was several factors: There was
no house take — just people getting together — and
the house didn’t profit at all,” he said.
Creed said police came in the back door of the
establishment where a game was being held in a
separate room. He said one woman whose boyfriend
was playing but wasn’t playing herself, was also
arrested. In addition to Creed, Lafayette
residents arrested were Brandon James Landry, 26;
John Carter Angelle, 28; Nicolas Jude Courville,
26; and Phi Ahn Kim Nguyen, 29. Others arrested
were Vivian Tien Huynh, 29, Kaplan; John Paul
Stafford, 28, Scott; and Minh Pham, 25, New
Orleans. All were charged with gambling.
“They started handcuffing us, but let us put
valuables like cell phones and our wallets in our
cars,” he said. “I said, ‘What were we doing
wrong?’ and they said, ‘You were gambling.’ ”
Texas HoldEm tournaments have become popular at
many bars in and around Lafayette in recent
months, but Alcohol and Tobacco Control
Commissioner Murphy Painter is planning to send
out cease and desist orders to bar owners about
the games soon, according to the Associated Press.
Painter said he plans to start “seriously
investigating” poker tournaments this week.
Creed, who said he was dealing, not playing,
thinks the Lafayette Police simply jumped the gun.
Creed said games at Shannon start every night
around 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. except for Sunday, when
the games start at 4 p.m. He said he plays several
times a week.
“My feeling is that they were more out setting the
stage for whatever is to come,” he said. Creed
said police have come to the games before and at
times had arrested whoever was running the game.
“I’ve only been here for three months, but this is
the first time they’ve ever taken in a potload of
players,” he said.
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