Columbiana cops raid eatery, take gambling devices

COLUMBIANA

Columbiana Police officers raided 7 & 14 Family Restaurant, 44952 state Route 14, Friday afternoon, seizing six slot-machine-type gambling machines.

The raid follwed a 15-month investigation.

Officers also seized cash, records and other evidence from the business, owned by Randall T. Webster, 63, of Canfield. When reached by telephone Friday night, Webster said he had no comment.

No charges have been filed, said Tim Gladis, Columbiana police chief, who added that his department began investigating a complaint of illegal gambling at the business in March 2010.

An undercover police officer identified six slot-machine-type devices at that time, played them and obtained cash for “credits” won on them.

Officers continued to investigate as a second complaint was received in October 2010, at which time Columbiana police warned Webster in person that the gambling devices were illegal, Gladis said.

Gladis also notified the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which assigned two investigators from the Charitable Law Division to conduct a months-long undercover investigation.

Friday’s search warrant, signed by Judge C. Ashley Pike of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, resulted from the investigations, Gladis said. It allowed investigators to collect evidence pertaining to any illegal gambling activity, money laundering and/or engaging in pattern of criminal activity.

“Those responsible will be charged,” Gladis said in a press release. “Blatant disregard for the law cannot be ignored by police, especially after fair warning.”