Pinellas County Warrants

Arrest Warrants Could Come Next in Sweepstakes Cafe Battle

Owners of Palm Harbor internet sweepstakes cafes can't say they weren't warned. Their cafes are now locked up, the lights are off, and if you look inside, you'll see empty tables and chairs where customers once sat playing the controversial games. 

Pinellas County Sheriff, Jim Coats has launched the latest salvo in the battle over internet sweepstakes cafes in Palm Harbor. 

Thursday, deputies simultaneously raided three internet sweepstakes cafes in Pinellas County. Two raids were at Palm Harbor cafes: Reel Fun, 36157 US 19 and Palm Harbor Internet Services, 38541 US 19; and the third was at the Southern Play Arcade, located at 10623 117th Dr. N. in unincorporated Largo.

Deputies seized 200 computers during the raids and confiscated $20,000 in cash.

"It lives up to our promise of what we said we'd do," Sheriff Coats told Palm Harbor Patch. 

Coats was referring to a letter he sent to the owners of Pinellas County internet sweepstakes cafes back in May. In the letter, Coats cited Florida Gambling Statutes 849.15, 849.16 and 849.01  claiming the owners of the cafes were operating businesses that used illegal coin-operated gambling devices.

Coats warned that if the businesses were still operating in 15 days, the sheriff's office could investigate further. He also mentioned that charges had been filed in similar circumstances.

After Coats sent the letter, the owner of Palm Harbor's Fun City internet sweepstakes cafe, State Rep. Peter Nehr, R-Palm Harbor, sold his business. It is now owned by Megan and Tim Crisante, who renamed the business, Palm Harbor Internet Services.

The owner of Palm Harbor's Reel Fun internet sweepstake cafe took a different approach. Charles Bartlett dug in his heels, hired an attorney, and unsuccessfully fought the sheriff in court.

But, the move could prove to be costly. In addition to paying an attorney for the court battle, Thursday's raids will most likely stop the cash flow for the Reel Fun internet cafe. It appears as though the money-making computers won't be returned anytime soon.

"All computers will be considered contraband and not likely returned to the owners," said Coats.

The sheriff also told Palm Harbor Patch that he expects the State Attorney's Office to review the evidence seized and issue arrest warrants.

"I feel confident that charges will be forthcoming," he said.

Warrants for Arrest - Pasco County Florida - Pinellas County ...

For those of you that think you couldn't possibly have a warrant for your arrest - think again.  We're seeing more and more cases in the last 3 months from people who have warrants for their arrest that are 5 or 10 or even 20 years old.  Usually the people have been stopped coming back into the country, getting off a cruise ship, or it comes up in a background check for a new job.  And the people never knew the warrants were out there - nor did the police it seems. 

This week in Trinity, Florida a completely productive citizen  was ARRESTED and put in JAIL for a 20+ year old traffic fine.  Although this is rarely done anymore, when the guy failed to appear in court back in 1986 (that's not a typo), the judge issued a warrant for the amount of the fine along with a penalty for failing to appear which was 15 days in jail.  Interestingly, the guy had been stopped for traffic tickets at least 4 times in the last 25 years.  Why didn't anyone see the warrant then? Perhaps it's Sheriff White's new way of increasing revenue for his office. 

Here's a link to the Pasco County Sheriff's office warrants division .  Note that most of the warrants are over 10 years old and for chld support and petty crimes  Now check out the MOST WANTED page.  Interestingly the first guy on the most wanted list - Bertram - has been allegedly hiding out in Holiday for the past 3 months and was just arrested - in ORANGE COUNTY - not in Holiday where the majority of the Sheriff's budget allegedly goes.  If they can find the traffic violators - why can't they find the bad guys?

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