Police Facing Lawsuit by ex-South Carolina Coroner after Raid on a Poker Game
Summary
Former Richland County coroner Gary Watts has filed a lawsuit against the Irmo Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) after last year’s raid on an office where a private poker game was taking place. Watts says the raid amounted to a false arrest and malicious prosecution. He alleges police used excessive force, deployed a SWAT team without presenting a search warrant, and later dismissed charges while seeking cooperation against other participants. Watts seeks damages for the incident, including lost wages and reputational harm.
Key Points
- Gary Watts, ex-Richland County coroner, was arrested during a police raid on a poker game and is now suing Irmo PD and SLED.
- Watts describes the arrest as false and malicious prosecution; he says the gathering was a friendly poker game, not an illegal gambling den.
- The lawsuit alleges police used a SWAT-style entry without presenting a search warrant and overreacted to the situation.
- Charges against Watts were eventually dismissed; police reportedly attempted to get him to testify against his son, Adam Watts, whose conviction was later overruled.
- There was an undercover officer who participated in the game and reportedly lost taxpayer money while playing.
- The lawsuit seeks compensation for damages sustained during and after the raid, including lost wages and reputational damage, and argues the activity did not clearly violate state law.
Content Summary
Last year officers from Irmo PD, with assistance from SLED, raided an office where a group was playing poker. Watts says the police acted like a military assault team, entering without showing a search warrant. He and his son were stopped while driving home, cooperated with officers, and maintained the game was informal: players “bought in” but the house only took a rake to cover food and drinks. Watts insists neither the location nor the activity fell squarely under South Carolina’s illegal gambling statutes.
Prosecutors later dropped charges against Watts. The complaint claims police should have known no crime was being committed and that their tactics amounted to excessive force and malicious prosecution. Watts is pursuing damages — covering immediate harms and longer-term losses such as wages and reputation. The case also notes an undercover officer participated and lost money, which the suit highlights as troubling.
Context and Relevance
This story sits at the intersection of policing practice, gambling law and civil rights. South Carolina has strict gambling laws, but the legal line between casual poker among friends and organised illegal gambling can be fuzzy. The involvement of SLED and a SWAT-style entry raises questions about proportionality, warrant standards and use of undercover operations. A successful suit could influence how local departments handle similar calls and shape prosecutorial discretion in gambling-related incidents.
Author style
Punchy — the reporting is brisk and focused on the legal clash. For readers tracking enforcement, civil liberties or gambling law, this item flags a potentially precedent-setting dispute you might want to watch.
Why should I read this?
Short version: cops raided a private poker night, a former coroner says it was a bogus bust and is suing. If you care about police overreach, gambling enforcement or whether a private game can result in heavy-handed tactics, this saves you the drama — quick, relevant and easily skimmed.