Masked Gunman Robs Card Club
Police are investigating a robbery at a Ventura card club early Tuesday in which a man held a gun to one patron’s head while demanding cash from other customers.
The holdup occurred just before 1 a.m. at the Ash Street Card Club, which is operated out of the Elks Lodge building at 11 S. Ash St. No one was injured, and investigators would not disclose how much cash was taken.
According to police and witnesses, a man clad in black clothing and a black ski mask accosted a 22-year-old man in the building’s rear parking lot, placed a gun to his head and ordered him to walk inside the club.
Inside, six patrons playing poker and three employees were forced to get down on the ground and then to empty out their pockets. The suspect told several patrons to put the cash inside a backpack and ordered a manager to empty the cash drawer.
The suspect then made the man kneel on the floor and hand the backpack over his head, and the robber fled.
Police have no suspects, but believe the holdup was well-planned.
“This suspect is more than likely familiar with that establishment and knew what he was doing,” Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Anderson said.
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