Greentrack gambling raid charges dismissed

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 12, 2010

EUTAW (AP) — A judge has thrown out all charges against 17 people accused of interfering with state police when they raided the electronic bingo operation at Greenetrack in Eutaw.

District Judge Lillie Jones-Osborne ruled Wednesday in favor of the 17, including state Sen. Bobby Singleton of Greensboro and two Greene County commissioners. The judge said the state failed to provide adequate information to support the charges.

Sixteen of the defendants were arrested July 1 and one was arrested June 29 on charges of obstructing government operations. In addition, Greenetrack CEO Luther “Nat” Winn was charged with reckless endangerment after being accused of striking a state trooper. That charge was also dismissed.

Greenetrack supporters in the courtroom broke into applause after the charges were thrown out.

Greenetrack has been closed since the gambling operation was raided July 1.