Westminster 'slaphouse' raided: 11 arrested, gambling machines and drugs seized
Police raided an illegal gambling operation on Apache Road in Westminster, arresting 11 people. Officers found four gambling machines, narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
Eleven arrested in Westminster 'slaphouse' raid on Apache Road
Eleven people were taken into custody on Wednesday morning after Westminster police raided an illegal gambling operation inside a residential home, latimes.com reports.
Officers executed a search warrant at a property on the 6000 block of Apache Road at approximately 10:30 a.m., uncovering four suspected gambling machines, narcotics and drug paraphernalia on the premises.
Commander Andy Stowers confirmed that officers had developed probable cause to obtain the search warrant, though he declined to specify what initially drew them to the address. "What I can say is that officers developed probable cause to execute a search warrant," Stowers said.
Police have not released the names of the eleven individuals arrested. Those taken into custody were booked on suspicion of a range of charges, including illegal gambling, drug possession, parole violations and outstanding arrest warrants.
Aerial footage from KTLA showed 11 men and women seated on the ground outside the home, which sits in a residential neighbourhood between the 405 and 22 freeways.
The Westminster Police Department issued a statement making clear its position on such establishments, commonly referred to as "slaphouses." "These operations are often associated with criminal activity, including illegal gambling, drug use, and potential violence, which threaten public safety and negatively impact the quality of life in our neighbourhoods," the department said.
Wednesday's raid is not an isolated case in Westminster. In August, police discovered an illegal gambling den in the 9800 block of Bolsa Avenue, seizing gambling machines and arresting seven people on suspicion of narcotics possession and sales, illegal gambling and firearm violations.
In May 2024, officers conducting a routine business check at a café on Bushard Street and Bolsa Avenue found five illegal gambling machines. Staff at the establishment did not deny that illegal gambling had been taking place there.
Earlier still, in November 2023, eight people were arrested at a slaphouse on the 8900 block of Barcelona Place. Authorities recovered $500 in cash, drug paraphernalia, more than 92 grams of suspected methamphetamine and five gaming machines in that operation.
That same year, local residents reported avoiding Tony Lam Park for tennis due to what they described as a gambling presence on site.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)