Cloverdale gambling establishment busted

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

CLOVERDALE -- Officers from the Indiana Gaming Commission and the Indiana State Police busted an illegal gambling establishment in Cloverdale on Tuesday.

A release from the IGC said Bryant R. Murphy, 48, of Madison, Tenn., was arrested on felony warrants for corrupt business influence, promoting professional gambling and professional gambling.

Authorities shut down Murphy's business, Vid-Tek Marketing Research, located at the Cloverdale Truck Plaza at U.S. 231 and I-70. Authorities said Murphy was operating the gambling business through Vid-Tek.

The bust took place shortly after 10 a.m., when officers witnessed Murphy exiting a vehicle and enter the Vid-Tek building.

When Murphy was arrested, police found he was in possession of a loaded 10-millimeter handgun.

Inside the Vid-Tek building, officers found five illegal gambling machines, cash, an assortment of gambling materials and more than 100 Marathon gift cards believed to have been used in connection with gambling proceeds.

The IGC has been investigating the business for several weeks following some tips concerning illegal gambling, the release said.

Murphy was booked into the Putnam County Jail, where he is awaiting transport to Pulaski County, where he will face further illegal gambling charges, the release said.

Murphy's van was towed to a secure facility for further examination.

According to a news release from the Indiana State Police, the investigation revealed that illegal gambling had been taking place at the location for some time.

The investigation is continuing, and numerous documents listing possible customers and employees were discovered.

The investigation will also be turned over to the Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter, for additional charges in Putnam County.

Police are asking for anyone with additional information concerning this investigation or any other illegal gambling ring should call (866) 610-8477 or at their Web page www.in.gov/igc.

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  • a 10 mm handgun? and 'laded,' too.

    Does anyone ever proof this stuff?

    -- Posted by whatsup on Wed, Aug 27, 2008, at 10:46 PM
  • Glad the gun was laded and not loaded. That could have been a scary situation.

    -- Posted by mad-mom on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 6:15 AM
  • *

    Yeah, there's a 10mm handgun. It's used by several government agencies. Glock models 20 and 29.

    -- Posted by tackleberry65 on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 7:57 AM
  • Glad too see that at least we can still comment on some stories in the Banner. I guess as long as it doesnt involve Frisbie we're OK.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts=idiot on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 10:14 AM
  • That'll teach Murphy for trying to compete with the legal variety of gambling.

    Let's see, he was peaceably providing a service that people voluntarily sought out. Yup, better bring out the swat team for this one.

    Good thing they got that gun before it jumped out and started shooting people too.

    Sonic has a good point. Let's see who was demanding this service.

    -- Posted by VonMises on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 10:20 AM
  • it's a gamble eating at the truck stop, especially if you've been out all night and you go in there laded! (grin)

    -- Posted by gottokno on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 5:49 PM
  • Don't understand illegal gambling rings when there are nice places such as French Lick to gamble legally and also has so many things to do for fun and entertainment. Good job to those that investigated this gambling ring and took action.This could have turned into something much bigger but, sounds as if handled carefully and professionally. I love eating at the truck stop but, guess this kind of stuff can happen in places we least expect.This just shows me our community isn't amune to this sort of thing and we have excellent law enforcement.

    -- Posted by peace2019 on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 8:22 PM
  • So the police are spending time seeking a "Serial Gambler Dealer" when all these people are right here in our community harvesting and selling drugs........Did the owner of the Truckstop get in trouble or arrested too? Afterall...He should of known that was happening on his property....hmm...sounds like he must of been the the RING LEADER, are the police sure they even got the right guy? From what I hear the Cloverdale Police have been in there too.....And now we all see where our TAX money is going to find illegal gambling instead of the bigger issues that should be focused on......

    -- Posted by candlecrazy94 on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 8:47 PM
  • So what! Someone was just trying to provide a little entertainment and fun! I'm sure theres more interesting things to investigate around this county. Start at the top.It's all games!

    -- Posted by karma on Fri, Aug 29, 2008, at 11:57 AM
  • Some people who read this article and commented may not know this but it is illegal to gamble outside appropriated facilities if the house is taking a profit. This may not be the greatest problem in Putnam Co but it is still ILLEGAL! Dont down our local Law Enforcement for doing their jobs. Its not like the officers sit down and say this week drugs next week gambling. They take them as they receive them. So if you're worried that there are bigger problems, call in if you know something is going on, help out. By the way, illegal gambling is usually funding "bigger problems" i.e. drugs!

    -- Posted by WTFRUthinkin on Sat, Aug 30, 2008, at 5:44 AM
  • Local Law Enforcements was not the one to "bust" this Big ILLEGAL gambling ring.......Local Law Enforcement was very aware this gambling was going on for way over a year....hmm...kinda makes you wonder. The Truckstop is funding drugs at it's illegal gambling site??? Where do I get my ticket?

    -- Posted by candlecrazy94 on Sat, Aug 30, 2008, at 9:07 AM
  • State Police are local Law Enforcement, you can reach out and speak with them just as easy as you can call the Cloverdale PD. The fact of the matter is they were breaking the law. How can we as citizens say arrest this person but not this one because they havent committed the most outrageous crimes? You have to accept the smaller "busts" with the bigger ones. Everyday will not be a meth bust or child porn ring and that is life....

    -- Posted by WTFRUthinkin on Sat, Aug 30, 2008, at 11:43 AM
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