Keeping guns off the streets lands The Rev. 'Slim' Lake in jail

Says he took weapons away from at-risk youths

9/4/2014
BLADE STAFF
  • The-Rev-Charles-Slim-Lake

    The Rev. Charles 'Slim' Lake
    • The Rev. Charles 'Slim' Lake
    The Rev. Charles 'Slim' Lake

    One of Toledo’s most infamous open-air street preachers is again taking up residency in the Lucas County jail.

    The Rev. Charles “Slim” Lake, 58, of 1045 Campbell St. and 1038 Hamilton Ave., was arrested Friday for a violation of his post-release control agreement, which was set after his 2010 release from prison.

    Lake, the founder of Boss Angels, Inc., a youth organization for at-risk persons, was arrested by the Adult Parole Authority after Lake told a reporter from WTVG-TV, Channel 13, that his organization had collected 13 guns that he said he intended to turn over to Toledo police.

    “We have derringers, we have semi-automatics weapons, tommy guns, .357 magnums, .32s,” Lake told 13-ABC.

    Because Lake is a convicted felon, he cannot possess firearms.

    JoEllen Smith, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, said that Adult Parole Authority officials searched one of Lake’s residences -- although it was not clear which -- on Friday. Although they did not find the guns, Lake was arrested, Ms. Smith said. Upon being booked into the jail, Lake reportedly told officials where the guns were located and 11 firearms were found and confiscated.

    The weapons were booked into the Toledo Police Department’s property room.

    Toledo police Sgt. Joe Heffernan said the department had not been contacted by Lake to make arrangements to turn over any weapons.

    Ms. Smith said that because the investigation is ongoing, she could not answer more questions about the arrest, search warrant, or weapons seized.

    Lake was arrested in August, 2013, at the Hamilton Street address, the headquarters of Boss Angels, after police obtained a search warrant and reportedly found drugs inside the central-Toledo home. Lake is charged with four counts each of aggravated possession of drugs and aggravated trafficking in drugs; two counts each of aggravated possession of drugs and aggravated trafficking in drugs; and one count each of trafficking in drugs and trafficking in marijuana. His trial, which has been pushed back several times, is scheduled for Monday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.