Men keep shirts in card game, but lose pants, cash and car

Two friends didn’t lose their shirts in a card game, but they did lose their pants, wads of cash and even a car, and it wasn’t because they didn’t know when to walk away.

Anthony Masten, 21, of North Lauderdale, and Devon Golden, 19, of Lauderdale Lakes, were robbed at gunpoint on the evening of Dec. 4 at an apartment complex at 1201 NW Third Ave. in Pompano Beach, according to the Broward Sheriff ’s Office.

Investigators Monday released a picture of the man they think may have been involved in the crime. He was located on Monday afternoon and is being interviewed by detectives, the sheriff ’s office said.

Masten believes he and Golden were set up during the robbery at the Atlantic Palms Apartments.

“All of a sudden, this guy shows up out of nowhere and starts shouting ‘Where is the cash!’ ” Masten said during a telephone interview Monday. “Everything that happened makes me believe that we were set up.”

Golden told Broward investigators that he received a text message from a friend known as ‘ManMan’ to hang out at a park area inside the complex for a meet up. Later, Golden, Man-Man and an unidentified person began playing a card game. Masten was sitting nearby and not playing.

During the game, Golden took out a roll of cash wrapped by a rubber band and placed it on his lap, according to a sheriff ’s report.

Masten also had a considerable chunk of cash, about $800.

Masten said he and Golden were about to leave after several hands, but Man-Man insisted on another game. But before that game started, a black truck pulled up and a gunman jumped out. He ordered all four men to the ground, and ordered Masten and Golden to remove their pants, Masten said.

The gunman told all four men to run. Masten and Golden, wearing only their shirts and boxers, fled in one direction while Man Man and the fourth man, who were not ordered to take off their clothes, ran in another direction, Masten said.

When Masten and Golden eventually returned to the area with deputies, Masten realized that his car was missing. The car, as well as the cash and their property, has not been recovered.