Pea Shake Rattle and Roll, Part II
There’s some new controversy involving the illegal gambling bust that occurred last Friday on Indianapolis’ west side. According to the Indianapolis Star, a police report was issued about the bust at the “pea shake” house in the 1400 block of West Roche. That report listed the details of the raid that resulted in charges being filed against Leonard Howard. What’s odd about the report issued was that there was an earlier report issued that included statements by Democratic State Senator Glenn Howard. He said, “They don’t hurt nobody, it’s just a pea shake. I know it’s illegal, but they don’t hurt nobody,” That information was omitted in the second police report.
Now a more cynical person would think that there was something funny going on here. Sheriff Frank Anderson says he did not see anything wrong with the report being altered. IMPD Chief Mike Spears sys in hindsight, the report should not have been changed. Well, duh!
This is a classic case of having to choose between evil and stupidity. Either someone in authority at IMPD ordered the report changed to try to cover up the fact that Sen. Howard showed up at the scene of the raid. Or someone was stupid enough to think that no one in the media would notice; even though it had already been reported by me and RTV 6 that Howard was there. I can respect evil, to a point. I have no tolerance for stupid.
What this does boil down to is sheer arrogance by people in authority who think they can act with impunity and get away with anything. And for a long time they have, well here’s a news flash for a lot of these people. I normally don’t telegraph something like this but apparently there is some truth to the Internet rumor mill that the U.S. Justice Department has taken quite the interest as to what’s been going in Indianapolis as of late and I would not be surprised to see a lot of people on the business end of a grand jury.
February 9th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Kudos Abdul on your piece on the pea shake house. Long overdue. Couple of suggestions, go rent the movie “Untouchable” with Costner and Connery. This is what IMPD officers are up against. Where oh where is Elliot Ness when you need him most. It is not the first time a pea shake house has been “busted” and will not be the last. Second, cross reference the names in the pea shake arrest report (and other pea shake arrests) with campaign contributors. I think you will find an uncanny similiarity between illegal campaign contributions and elected (mostly Democratic officials). Third, according to Sen. Glenn Howard comparison between “white folk playing bingo and blacks playing pea shake” is absurb. Most bingo parlors have gambling licenses and pay taxes. Additionally, churchs offer bingo but at least that supposedly goes to a good cause, a church or at least a 501(3c) status organization. Ticket houses/pea shakes money are taken from the poor in poor neighborhoods TAX FREE. Another revenue stream missed to pay for public safety, education, or a Colts Stadium.
February 9th, 2007 at 9:52 am
This is what’s needed:
- One Grand Jury
- Two police Reports – the original and the altered versions
- One copy of the law regarding altering public records
I think that the conclusions will be self-evident. There will be no justice for Indianapolis until those responsible for upholding the law are held accountable.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Concerned Citizen: The Costner and Connery version was OK, better yet is to find the originals with Robert Stack.
Granted I doubt it’s on DVD and years ago it played on late night Channel 23 (before it was borg-ed by Channel 8)
Glenn Howard trying to justify this as a “victimless crime” is like those who try to legitimize prostitution (Massage parlors) and recreational drug use (see: Anna Nicole Smith).
February 9th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Follow the Money.
State and/or federal law enforcement officials and prosecutors need to come in and clean this up.
Clearly local public officials and law enforcement leadership are negligent and complacent, if not corrupt.
February 9th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
The law is the law.
Shut down all these illegal cherry masters, pea houses, bingo halls, and any other gambling establishment that is not obeying the law.
It’s not a racial thing. Illegal gambling pays no taxes, follows no standards on payouts, and supports other illegal activity.