Couple Took Bets on Super Bowl, Police Say

Three people, including a San Fernando Valley couple, were arrested Sunday on suspicion of running a bookmaking operation that included taking bets of up to $1,000 on the Super Bowl, Los Angeles police said.

Acting on a tip, police served a search warrant about 1 p.m. at the Woodland Hills home of Sherwin Rane, 55, and his wife, Geraldine Huff, 46, Lt. Brad Merritt said.

Bets on the Super Bowl--ranging from $200 to $1,000--were being recorded over the telephone at the home in the 23900 block of Bessemer Street, Merritt said. Inside, police found records of similar wagers placed on other professional football games, he said.

A search warrant also was served at a West Los Angeles apartment where police found Norman Freedberg, 50, taking bets over the telephone in connection with the same operation, Meritt said. Records of bets placed on football playoff games also were found in the apartment in the 10900 block of Ohio Avenue, he said.

All three were arrested on suspicion of felony bookmaking, with Freedberg and Huff later released on $500 bail, Merritt said. Rane, who was out on bail on a prior arrest, was released on $5,500 bail, Merritt said.