A recent multi-jurisdictional task force operation in Sunflower County led to arrests and the confiscation of several illegal gaming machines.
Last Wednesday night, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Tunica County Special Operations Unit and other law enforcement officials in conjunction with the Sunflower County Sheriff’s Department staged surprise visits to establishments in Ruleville and Moorhead, along with some unanticipated traffic stops.
The visits and traffic stops resulted in several people being issued citations, the confiscation of six illegal gaming machines and an undisclosed amount of marijuana, the recovery of a stolen firearm and at least one person was nabbed for probation violation.
Haywood said the saturation program had been in the planning for more than a week, mainly because it had become apparent that there is too much illegal activity in certain areas of the county and no indictments had been handed down.
“We needed help, a lot of stuff (was) slipping through the cracks. A lot,” Haywood said.
He cited a lack of manpower and noted how fortunate they were to partner with the other agencies to generate the combined task force.
“We weren’t out long but the few hours that we were out did some good,” Haywood said.
He said the illegal gaming machines were seized from an establishment formerly known as the Black Castle Lounge at 118 South Front Street in Ruleville and the checkpoints netted the recovered weapon and others accused of infractions.
Although the stops were initiated near Moorhead, no officers from the town were part of the checks for illegal activity, but Ruleville police participated when the task force went north for the gaming machines.
Along with the issued citations comes a warning for those willing to gamble on their freedom: take heed, more incursions are forthcoming.
Haywood said they may not conduct the visits every week, but his department is going to start them back on a regular basis.
