On Tuesday early morning, the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) conducted a raid on an establishment suspected of operating an illegal underground gambling den. SWAT together with LBPD’s Vice Investigations Detail issued a search warrant at a business located in the 6400 block of Long Beach Boulevard. They were able to arrest of 11 individuals. 36-year-old Edmond Sims was attacked by a police dog and injured when he tried to escape on foot. The others who were arrested were all taken into custody on outstanding warrants.
Nearby residents notified the police about the alleged underground gambling shop. The interesting thing is that the den was adjacent to the Miracle Prayer Temple Mission, which Pastor Dorothy Davis advertises as a “prayer room” that offers “miracles, signs, and wonders.”
According to casino.org, in that place almost all homes and businesses have their doors and windows secured with iron bars. Additionally, the site of the raid is within walking distance of Compton, a city notorious for its crime.
The Neece Ave location and Long Beach Blvd. is also just a mile from the Crystal Casino, a legal card room. California has only card rooms where no house-banked table games or slot machines are offered. However, the Golden State has dozens of tribal casinos that offer both slots and tables, but they’re predominantly in remote regions on Native American sovereign reservations.
