Police Seize Gambling Machines From Alabama Church
DECATUR, ALA. December 26 2018
A Huntsville man faces charges of promoting gambling after police seized casino machines from inside a former seafood restaurant now being used as a church.
The Decatur Police Department said it had received multiple reports of gambling inside the old McCollum’s Seafood Restaurant on Gordon Terry Parkway. The building is divided into two parts – one is an antique store and the other is a non-denominational church called “Life’s Church. ”
A “large” gambling machine operation was found inside the church, police said. There were also video surveillance and bells to warn of law enforcement, a violation of state law.
Seventeen electronic gambling machines, the video and warning machines and other equipment were seized by law enforcement. Timothy Keith Roberts of Huntsville was charged with promoting gambling and unlawful maintaining of electronic bells, a felony, according to police. Roberts is currently out on bond for establishing a gaming place and possession of a gaming device from an arrest that occurred in Decatur in August 2017.
Prosecutors are currently in the process of revoking Roberts’ bond from the previous arrest.
Also arrested was Donna Joanne Weir of Meridian, Mississippi, an employee. She is charged with promoting gambling.
Both were taken to the Moran County Jail.
