6 Arrested in Gambling Raid at Video Arcade

The owner of a Glendale video arcade and five other people were arrested on suspicion of gambling last week when officers discovered them playing blackjack in a locked back room of the business, police said.

Raymond Hakoopian, 30, owner of Odyssey Video Arcade, was playing cards with friends in an office of the business at 213 S. Brand Blvd. when they were arrested about 5 p.m. Friday, police said.

Cards, a crap table and ledgers detailing debts of several hundred dollars were seized, police said.

Odyssey Video Arcade is one of the largest arcades in Glendale and includes several billiard tables.

Police said they have no evidence of gambling at other such establishments.

Hakoopian declined to comment.

Also arrested were Karapet Martirosyan, 27; Haytham Shamaoun, 26, and Varant Krikoian, 19, all of Glendale; George Livingston, 19, of North Hollywood, and Hamid Mahmoozi, 27, of Los Angeles.

All are scheduled to be arraigned in Glendale Municipal Court on Aug. 10.

They face maximum sentences of six months in jail on the misdemeanor charges.