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City wants to shut down game room
Davis Griffin, manager of the Game Room at 600 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Dalton, says good food and good prices, along with providing young people a place to hang out, draw people to the business.
But Dalton police say activity “in and around” the Game Room has resulted in 11 felony arrest warrants since June thanks to an undercover operation, with seven people charged with the sale of crack cocaine. Police have warrants on two others but declined to give their names.
And the city of Dalton has filed a motion in Municipal Court seeking to shut down the business, calling it a public nuisance.
“The operation of the Game Room, where the sale of illegal drugs and other illegal activity occurs on the premises, is manifestly injurious to the public health or safety or tends greatly to corrupt the manners and morals of the public and thus constitutes a nuisance to the Dalton City Code,” said the motion, provided by Griffin.
About a dozen people trickled in and out of the business Tuesday afternoon. Some played pool. Some were just sitting at tables talking. Signs line the walls with the words, “No alcohol, no cursing, no fighting, no drugs.”
Anita Beck, 28, one of the patrons, said Griffin would not condone drug use.
“He is not going to do anything to hurt the community,” said Beck, who said she has known Griffin since she was 15.
Griffin, 64, said he operates the Game Room to help people and to give them a place to go, not to be a haven for drug deals. People play cards and dominoes at the small tables during the day, he said, and kids love his French fries.
Police said they learned about alleged drug activity there from “tips from citizens and other sources.”
“The agents involved were able to successfully buy crack cocaine on 10 different occasions from individuals in and around the Game Room,” a press release said.
“You don’t go out there and sell dope and come back in here,” Griffin said. “And they have not made an arrest inside here.”
“No loitering” signs are posted in several places outside the business. Griffin said if anyone is just hanging out, he tells them to come inside.
“He can only watch what’s in the business,” said Vince Jones, 33, who said he has been coming to the Game Room since it opened four years ago. “This is just a place for young people to come. You can’t play cards anywhere else.”
There is a hearing in Municipal Court on the nuisance motion on Sept. 18.
This is not the first time Griffin has had to defend himself against allegations of illegal activity. He was convicted two years ago of selling cigarettes to minors at the Game Room. He said he is appealing that decision in Whitfield County Superior Court.
“I don’t know why they are doing this to me,” Griffin said. “I’m trying to help people. I don’t condone drug use.”
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List of those arrested in undercover investigation.
These people were arrested as part of an undercover operation by the Dalton Police Department “in and around” the Game Room at 600 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.:
• Sharron Boone, 41, 3210 Gleason Drive, Chattanooga, charged with sale of cocaine. She was released from jail on a $5,000 bond.
• Videl London, 27, 1320 Murray Ave., Apartment 214, Dalton, charged with sale of cocaine. He was still in jail Tuesday evening on a $5,000 bond and a parole hold.
• Quinnisha Robinson, 21, 3210 Gleason Drive, Chattanooga, charged with sale of cocaine. She was released on a $5,000 bond.
• Mustafa Shropshire, 33, 602 Dawn Drive, Dalton, charged with sale of cocaine. He is being held without bond on a probation hold.
• Lamar Smith, 19, 109 Gail Drive, Dalton, charged with sale of cocaine and failure to appear. He is being held without bond.
• John Walton Jr., 21, 2417 Third St., Dalton, charged with possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. He was still in jail Tuesday evening on a $17,500 bond and a parole hold.
• Kalvin Willis, 48, 407 Wrinkle St., No. 2, Dalton, charged with sale of cocaine. He is being held without bond.
