Sheriff: Club owner arrested after reopening condemned club | Crime

Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office arrested a club owner after he re-entered his condemned business, sold beer, and installed video poker machines, according to sheriff’s deputies.

According to news releases, officers were investigating complaints of illegal gambling/poker machines, the sale of beer, and narcotics at the condemned Allen Murray Club in Bowman.

Deputies say 69-year-old club owner, Allen Murray, gave investigators permission to search the building at 823 Foliage Street.

Once inside, officers located a pool table in the rear of the building with empty beer cans on shelves along the wall, the release stated.

According to sheriff’s deputies, officers were dispatched to the same location on Tuesday morning around midnight to answer a fight in progress call where they observed seven poker machines and subjects drinking beer.

Murray advised officers that he moved the machines from the club to his residence after the officers responded Tuesday night.

An order of destruction was obtained for the seven illegal poker machines and 287 cans of beer.

Deputies say more than $1,000 was seized from Murray that he said he obtained from the sale of beer and people playing the poker machines.

“Officers have responded to the Allen Murray Club more than 90 times since 2006,” said Sheriff Ravenell. “After condemning the club in 2010, Murray went right back in there, built a video poker machine room, and reopened for business illegally. This agency has little patience for criminals and we will protect citizens from business owners and businesses that operate illegally. Just because you are ready to reopen, doesn’t make it legal.”

Bond was set at $5,525 cash or surety on all three charges.