5 held in gambling den raid

GAMBLING MACHINES seized in Westminster raid (WPD photos).

In a continuing crackdown on illegal gaming, Westminster police raided a suspected gambling den and arrived five people on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the WPD, the raid began at 4 p.m. as their officers – along with West Orange County SWAT – served a search warrant in the 14600 block of Wakefield Street (southwest of Hazard Avenue and Brookhurst Street).

As officers approached, several people fled on foot and in vehicles from the house. Officers manning a perimeter were able to detain five of them without incident.

They were arrested and booked at Orange County Jail for an outstanding warrant for a weapons charge, a felony probation violation, a parole violation and for operating a gambling house.

Also, officers recovered about two ounces of methamphetamine and crack cocaine, about $3000 in cash, six gambling machines and a pistol.