Police raid Ridley Twp. bar

As patrons watched in surprise, 10 Pennsylvania State Police officers raided a Delaware County bar yesterday, and hauled away two video gaming machines they suspected were operating illegally.

The investigation at Della Polla's Family Tavern on MacDade Boulevard in Ridley Township was part of a statewide effort funded by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to crack down on unlawful gambling.

At Della Polla's, the officers also confiscated $15,000. No charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing, according to Sgt. William N. LaTorre.

Carmen Della Torra Jr., one of the bar owners, declined to comment on the raid.

Delaware County received a $250,000 grant from the gaming board in May to investigate and prosecute criminal gaming activities. The money came from a $5 million annual program mandated under the Gaming Act and approved by the legislature in 2007 to address the operation of illegal slot machines that give cash payouts. The program is funded from revenue generated by businesses with licensed slot machines and can be used for education, training and enforcement.

Gregory Hurchalla, Delaware County deputy district attorney, said yesterday that "illegal slot machines in and of themselves pose serious problems for our community. It is not uncommon for other serious crimes to occur within or near the same establishments."

Local law enforcement agencies may receive up to $250,000, but the money may not be used to crack down on illegal activities involving small games of chance.

Since October, more than $3.1 million has been given to 27 law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania. In November, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office received $250,000; this year, the Bensalem Township Police Department got $225,000.

Yesterday, more than $272,000 was awarded to five agencies in Allegheny, Luzerne and Monroe Counties.

Less than a minute after arriving at Della Polla's, police were behind the bar looking though the cash register, asking for keys to the safe, and interviewing staff.

"Just to have [this machine] sitting on the bar is illegal," said Officer Frank Spera, referring to one of the confiscated games, the Fruit Bonus 2000 video slot machine. The other was a video poker machine.

The illegal machines are not necessarily similar in appearance to newer gaming machines in casinos, according to police. However, one of the confiscated games had a "knock out" function that lets someone change the payout odds by pressing a button.

Spera said one illegal game could generate $2,000 a week in profit.

"I know that [video slot] machine has been here for three or four months," said Vincent Cimarelli, 69, a cook at the bar for about five years. He described the tavern as "more of a family place."

"There are a lot of these machines out there," LaTorre said.

He said anyone who suspects an establishment of operating illegal gaming machines is asked to call the State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement at 215-726-6200.