9 warrants issued in connection with arcade raid

BROWNSVILLE - A judge issued nine arrest warrants Tuesday for three suspects in connection with last week's police raid of the Gold Mine arcade in Brownsville.

The Brownsville Police Department's Special Investigations Unit seized 62 eight-liner machines and other goods from the business, which police allege paid cash prizes in violation of state gaming laws.

Three members of a family were named in the warrants, charging each with keeping a gambling place, possession of gambling equipment and gambling promotion. Their names were not released, pending arrests.

However, the name of the arcade listed in the warrants is "The Golden Arcade."

Cameron County records show that permits for 60 machines at the 280 FM 511 location were issued to Golden Arcade owner, Teresa de Jesus Bazan, in May and August this year.

However, city records show that the building department issued a certificate of occupancy to Ricardo Mijares of Alamo Street for an arcade at that same location since August last year.

City officials told said they were considering an application that Bazan filed for a certificate of occupancy for The Golden Arcade for that location when the raid occurred.

According to Herald archives, police detained Bazan in December 2007 for operating the Golden Arcade on Boca Chica Boulevard.