Former Flint Police Chief Pleads No Contest To Illegal Gambling Charge

Former Flint police chief William Bradford Barksdale pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges related to illegal gambling.

Barksdale entered the pleas for one count of gambling violations and one count of reckless use of a firearm. The charges were originally brought in 2018, stemming from alleged gambling activities at West Point Arcade.

The gambling violations charge is a five-year felony, while the firearm charge is a 90-day misdemeanor.

He is scheduled for sentencing April 14 in Genesee County Circuit Court.

Former police chief third to enter plea in West Point Arcade case

Barksdale is the third individual to enter a plea in relation to West Point Arcade. His co-defendants, Alvin Crossnoe and Adam Crossnoe, pleaded guilty in their respective cases in 2021.

State officials say the trio operated West Point Arcade in Flint, which was investigated in 2017.

“My office remains committed to upholding gaming rules and regulations,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a release. “We will continue to coordinate with the Michigan Gaming Control Board on this case and others to ensure our state’s gambling laws are strictly enforced.”

MGCB assisted in investigation of West Point Arcade

Michigan Gaming Control Board regulation officers visited the arcade that year, suspecting alleged gambling activities without a casino license.

They were able to play casino-style games on computer stations, and were paid in generic gift cards. After their investigation, the matter was forwarded to the Dept. of Attorney General for charges.

During the execution of a search warrant, more than 80 firearms were also found on the property, including eight sawed-off shotguns.

“The Michigan Gaming Control Board believes it’s important to eliminate illegal gaming operations because they don’t offer the protections legal, regulated gambling provides Michigan citizens,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said. “Illegal gaming operations do not belong in our neighborhoods, where they bring unwanted crime and prey on senior citizens and other vulnerable people. We are pleased with the outcome of this investigation.”