Police Facing Lawsuit by ex-South Carolina Coroner after Raid on a Poker Game

Last year, Gary Watts, a former Richland County coroner, was arrested alongside some of his friends for hosting organized poker games, reported WIS News back in 2024.

Now he is suing both the Irmo Police Department as well as the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

What the police called busting an illegal gambling den Watts describes as “a false arrest and malicious prosecution”.

The complaint by Watts starts by mentioning that the Irmo PD sought help from SLED to raid the poker game and arrest him and his friends “Irmo’s police department (Irmo PD) enlisted the help of Defendant South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to raid the poker game”.

In the lawsuit, Watts claims that they hadn’t violated any laws and that they were simply enjoying a game of poker.

They also claim that the police should have been aware that no crime was being committed. 

The Raid That Triggered the Events

The lawsuit mentions that not only did the police blow the whole thing out of proportion. They also didn’t present a search warrant and instead just sent the SWAT team in, who then, as witnesses describe it, began “charging in like Seal Team 6”.

Watts and his son weren’t at the location when it happened; they were driving home when they were stopped by police and proceeded to fully cooperate and describe how things actually were.

 “Watts testified that he rented the office suite, which he used for his business and to play poker with friends, approximately one or two days per week. Watts explained players would “buy in” to the game, but no one was paid to run the game. Instead, the money collected through the rake was used to pay for food and drinks.”

They later dismissed the charges and tried to get him to testify against his own son, Adam Watts, who was subsequently convicted, but the decision was later overruled.

Apparently, there was also an undercover officer who joined the game and lost taxpayer money.

Calling the Bluff

Gambling laws in South Carolina are very strict; however, there are clearly delineated differences between illegal gambling and a friendly game of poker.

Watts claims that “poker” and “office spaces” are not included anywhere in the law.

The lawsuit also aims to compensate for any damages, both during the occurrence and after, including lost wages.