Authorities raided two homes in Westminster Tuesday and arrested more than two dozen people in connection with an alleged illegal gambling operation.
One of the search warrants was served about 12:30 a.m. at a home on Treebark Circle east of Brookhurst Street.
Complaints from neighbors led authorities to raid the residence, said Westminster police Cmdr. Cord Vandergrift.
“A lot of the time, it’s the neighbors who call and report the activity (and) that … starts the investigation for us,” Vandergrift told reporters at the scene. “That’s why it’s always so important for everyone, anything you see that you think is not right, call the police department and let us know.”
The second home that was raided is less than a half-mile away near Premier Avenue and Bowling Green Street, according to Westminster police Sgt. Phuong Pham, who said the multi-agency investigation was three months in the making.
Police arrested 27 people, with 15 booked into the Orange County Jail and a dozen cited and released, Pham said. Booking allegations included running an illegal gambling operation, narcotics possession and sales and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and some suspects were wanted on warrants, according to the sergeant.
Westminster police were assisted by the West County and Buena Park SWAT teams, Orange County sheriff’s deputies and the Orange County Fire Authority.