November 17, 2015 - The Center Police Department performed a raid on the Loop 500 Convenience Store on Friday, November 13, 2015 which resulted in the arrest of at least one suspect.
Shelby County Today was on scene at 9:25am as Center Police officers were removing a large number of computers and other evidence from the business while many would be customers were turned away on their arrival.
The store is currently closed for an unknown length of time and one man was escorted out of the building in handcuffs as the doors were locked. The Center Police Department has not yet shared what the arrest is pertaining to at this time.
Shady Oaks Convenience store, which is just up the road from the Loop 500 Convenience Store location was the scene of a raid on October 22, 2015 from which several gaming machines were removed from the store and three individuals were arrested.
(Update) According to a press release issued by the Center Police Department, Detective Stephen Stroud with the Center Police Department executed a Search and Seizure Warrant on the Loop 500 Convenience store on November 13, 2015 in relation to an investigation into illegal gambling.
Approximately $170,000 in cash and gambling machines were seized from the alleged illegal activities. Virendra Patel, 43, of Center; Dipa Patel, 31, of Center; and Angel Gonzalez, 26, of Center were arrested for Engaging in Criminal Activity, Keeping a Gambling Place, Promotion of Gambling and Possession of Gambling Devises. All subjects later bonded out and were released from the Shelby County Jail. Each received a combined bond amount of $20,000.
This investigation is ongoing, as the Center Police Department is investigating other possible crimes that are associated with this case.
