3 Arrested, 21 Charged In Toledo Poker Raid

An illegal poker game was raided and broken up by Toledo police at a building in West Toledo. Three people were arrested in the incident, while 21 others involved in the operation will be charged.

Police authorities confiscated gambling paraphernalia that included poker chips, playing cards, surveillance equipment and over $4,500 in cash during the search that occurred around 11:50 in the evening of Thursday, September 14, at 1446 Sylvania Ave.

The search warrant for the raid was issued on the merit of a three month investigation conducted by the police into illegal poker games being played in the address. The twenty-four people were the ones present at the time of the search.

Steve Lang, 40, of 643 Plymouth St. was charged with felony operating of a gambling house but was released under a supervised recognizance bond after arraignment in the Toledo Municipal Court. Lang admitted to being in charge of the illegal gambling games, as shown by court records.

Also charged was Ryan Walder, 20 of 4703 Lewis Ave. and Joseph Summers, 33, of 4534 North Lockwood Ave with misdemeanor gambling. A 34-year-old Dearborn, Mich., man and a 33-year-old East Toledo man were likewise charged with public gaming, a minor misdemeanor.