Police raid Big Island gaming rooms

Police raided several gaming rooms around the island Tuesday, including one in the commercial complex at Hilo’s Waiakea Villas.

Dan Ferris said officers entered Reel Fun shortly after noon while he was playing one of the machines, which he said takes cash only.

“I put $20 in the machine,” Ferris said. “You can pay whatever amount you want, but I’m playing a dollar a shot because I want to win the $2,500 and if I lose, I lose. So I’m playing my fifth spin, for a dollar, and all of a sudden, the cops are there. They came in and said they’re serving a search warrant. I’m sitting there right next to the office. They’re opening the door and they open the cash register and there’s nothing. They just opened.”

An officer didn’t allow the Tribune-Herald inside while the raid was occurring, but said more information would be forthcoming.

Ferris, who was not arrested, said the business operator was detained but he didn’t see anyone else arrested while he was inside the premises. He said officers asked everybody for their driver’s license or ID cards, took down the information and made them fill out forms acknowledging they were on the premises of the game room and asking if they wished to make a statement. Ferris said he didn’t make a statement.

“They just shut it down,” Ferris said. “And as I’m taking photos — I’m pretending to talk on the phone but I’m taking photos — they said, ‘Sir, you have to put the cellphone down or surrender it.’ I said, ‘I’ll surrender it if you like.’ He took it from me but he gave it back to me after I filled out my form.”

Police said five of the establishments raided are in Hilo, one in Waimea, another in Kona, plus two located in homes in Kona and Honokaa.

Capt. Robert Wagner said late Tuesday no arrests had been made and the investigation is ongoing.

See tomorrow’s edition for an updated story.

John Burnett at hawaiitribune-herald.com.