Sting yields narcotics arrests

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

A two-day narcotic enforcement operation near the area of Yanonali Street and Calle Cesar Chavez yielded eight arrests, a statement from the Santa Barbara Police Department said.
The sting operation concluded Thursday when undercover officers arrested Ernesto Ventura for possession of crack cocaine, Jose Garcia for possession of powder cocaine, Henry Paul Rojo for possession of powder cocaine and Clifford Johnson for possession of powdered cocaine.


Lt. Paul McCaffrey, a spokesman for the police department, said dealers were conducting business in the brush growing adjacent to the freeway to conceal their business. In order to reduce the popularity of this area with drug uses, McCaffrey said the police department is working with the city’s Public Works Department and Caltrans to clean up encampments and remove excess foliage.
On Tuesday police arrested Santiago Garcia Hernandez, 25, for alleged transportation and possession of cocaine.
McCaffrey said police were first alerted to Hernandez after he attempted to sell cocaine to an undercover officer on the 1000 block of San Andres St. Police later searched Hernandez’s home, where they found 1.5 ounces of cocaine and crack cocaine as well as packaging materials and evidence of drug sales. He said police also seized nearly $3,000 in cash.