Sheriff wants bingo machines destroyed

Sheriff Todd Entrekin

Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin is refusing to release two electronic bingo machines and a computer server seized last month from center stages in rainbow city as gambling devices in a case in which the criminal charges have been dropped, and has begun the process to have them destroyed.  Entrekin said he still believes it's an illegal machine, and based on that, he is going to file forfeiture proceedings on it to have it destroyed.  Entrekin has submitted the paperwork to District Attorney Jimmie Harp and said he looks  forward to running over them with a bulldozer.  Attorney Roy McCord is representing Michelle Garbe of Gadsden, who had been charged with promoting gambling and possession of a gambling device which have since been dropped asked the sheriff Monday to release the machines and server.  Entrekin said the property was seized from Center Stage in Rainbow City because his office had reasonable cause to believe it was being used “in a manner inconsistent with Alabama law .  Entrekin said he would not be in a position to release the property “absent an order from an appropriate court.  McCord said he and Garbe are studying their options. He said he has been told the machines are owned by CBS Supply, which had hoped to develop a $200 million bingo development off Interstate 59 near the Etowah-St. Clair County line. He said the machines and server were in his client's possession when they were seized June 28.