By Bob Howell – WSFA 12 News Anchor, Montgomery, AL

Here’s the latest on the legal battle over bingo…the rejection of Country Crossing’s request for  restraining order from a federal judge here in Montgomery:

 

(AP) Montgomery, Al - A federal judge has refused to block a

raid on the Country Crossing bingo hall in Dothan.

Country Crossing had sought an order from U.S. District Judge

Myron Thompson of Montgomery to block a raid by the Governor's Task

Force on Illegal Gambling. Thompson declined to issue a temporary

restraining order Monday afternoon.

The judge said Country Crossing and the task force should

address their issues in state court rather than federal court.

Country Crossing had turned to federal court after the task

force sought to raid the casino, which has some 1,700 electronic

bingo machines.

John Tyson responds:

Statement from John Tyson, Commander of the Task Force on Illegal Gambling, on Today’s Ruling from U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson:

“Today’s ruling by the federal court is a victory for the rule of law.  The gambling bosses who run Country Crossing undertook this desperate effort to stop the enforcement of Alabama’s gambling laws, and it failed.  If Country Crossing is reopened, then law enforcement officials intend immediately to arrest anyone seen engaging in criminal activity on the premises and to seize any illegal machines.  This is what law enforcement officials do every day in enforcing Alabama law, and the gambling bosses are going to be treated just like everyone else.  No one is above the law. 

“The federal court’s order makes reference to a civil court action that Country Crossing can file to review the legality of its machines.  Country Crossing should have done that prior to opening its facility.  The two recent decisions by the Alabama Supreme Court have spelled out the requirements for legal bingo, and the slot machines at Country Crossing do not come close to meeting those requirements.   If Country Crossing wants to seek a court ruling now on the legality of the machines, then its facility should remain closed until such a court proceeding is fully and finally concluded.   The Task Force will not stand by and allow criminal activity to proceed with impunity.”

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