Crackdown snares dozens
DRUG ARRESTS: Police conducted the undercover operation over the course of three months.
01:34 AM PDT on Thursday, July 7, 2005
By SARAH BURGE / The Press-Enterprise
RIVERSIDE - Dozens of people suspected of selling or buying drugs were arrested by police in an undercover operation that ran from March 7 to June 17, officials said Wednesday.
Police said that six undercover officers made 116 drug purchases from 60 people and arrested at least 70 others suspected of buying drugs. The officers seized 3.1 pounds of methamphetamine worth about $18,000 to $25,000; 20.8 grams of crack cocaine worth $800 to $900; a handgun and more than $4,000 in cash.
"We've done this before -- about a year and half ago -- and it was extremely successful," said Riverside County Assistant District Attorney Rod Pacheco.
"It was getting bad again," he said, so the Riverside Police Department approached his office about doing another crackdown.
Supervising District Attorney Kelly Keenan said it's somewhat unusual to catch drug dealers in the act. Usually, people suspected of being drug dealers are prosecuted in a more roundabout way, with charges such as possession with the intent to sell, he said.
During the operation, undercover detectives went up and down University Avenue and around the downtown area, where they made dozens of arrests, said Sgt. Brian Kittinger.
Investigators made a number of arrests at a house in the 2000 block of Patterson Street, which was well known around the neighborhood, Kittinger said.
"You go over there to the Eastside and ask where to buy the meth and they tell you," he said. "They actually gave the detectives directions."
Kittinger said undercover detectives visited the house several times between March 7 and May 12, posing as buyers.
Police served a warrant at the house on May 12 using their variation on the "Trojan horse" concept, Kittinger said. They arrived with a truck full of police officers.
Police arrested three suspects, then posed as drug dealers to catch the customers. Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. they arrested 40 people, he said.
"There's so many customers that come to this house. It's unbelievable," Kittinger said. "It was just customer after customer. We had to park a black and white out in front of the house just so we could keep up on our paperwork. We didn't think we'd get that many. It's amazing how prevalent the drug is out there."
Kittinger said drug dealing resumed at the house just weeks later. Police went back on June 17 and arrested 31 more suspects, he said.
Kittinger said police don't know who owns the house but the city attorney is investigating. The methamphetamine was not being produced there, he said. Several people were living there, including a family in the upstairs apartment.
Police also broke up an Eastside drug operation with gang ties at an apartment in the 1800 block of Enterprise Avenue, Kittinger said. "It was the place to buy crack," he said.
It's not clear whether the arrests will have an impact on other crime around the city. "It's really too soon to tell," Kittinger said.
Reach Sarah Burge at (951) 368-9642 or
DRUG ARRESTS: Police conducted the undercover operation over the course of three months.
01:34 AM PDT on Thursday, July 7, 2005
By SARAH BURGE / The Press-Enterprise
RIVERSIDE - Dozens of people suspected of selling or buying drugs were arrested by police in an undercover operation that ran from March 7 to June 17, officials said Wednesday.
Police said that six undercover officers made 116 drug purchases from 60 people and arrested at least 70 others suspected of buying drugs. The officers seized 3.1 pounds of methamphetamine worth about $18,000 to $25,000; 20.8 grams of crack cocaine worth $800 to $900; a handgun and more than $4,000 in cash.
"We've done this before -- about a year and half ago -- and it was extremely successful," said Riverside County Assistant District Attorney Rod Pacheco.
"It was getting bad again," he said, so the Riverside Police Department approached his office about doing another crackdown.
Supervising District Attorney Kelly Keenan said it's somewhat unusual to catch drug dealers in the act. Usually, people suspected of being drug dealers are prosecuted in a more roundabout way, with charges such as possession with the intent to sell, he said.
During the operation, undercover detectives went up and down University Avenue and around the downtown area, where they made dozens of arrests, said Sgt. Brian Kittinger.
Investigators made a number of arrests at a house in the 2000 block of Patterson Street, which was well known around the neighborhood, Kittinger said.
"You go over there to the Eastside and ask where to buy the meth and they tell you," he said. "They actually gave the detectives directions."
Kittinger said undercover detectives visited the house several times between March 7 and May 12, posing as buyers.
Police served a warrant at the house on May 12 using their variation on the "Trojan horse" concept, Kittinger said. They arrived with a truck full of police officers.
Police arrested three suspects, then posed as drug dealers to catch the customers. Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. they arrested 40 people, he said.
"There's so many customers that come to this house. It's unbelievable," Kittinger said. "It was just customer after customer. We had to park a black and white out in front of the house just so we could keep up on our paperwork. We didn't think we'd get that many. It's amazing how prevalent the drug is out there."
Kittinger said drug dealing resumed at the house just weeks later. Police went back on June 17 and arrested 31 more suspects, he said.
Kittinger said police don't know who owns the house but the city attorney is investigating. The methamphetamine was not being produced there, he said. Several people were living there, including a family in the upstairs apartment.
Police also broke up an Eastside drug operation with gang ties at an apartment in the 1800 block of Enterprise Avenue, Kittinger said. "It was the place to buy crack," he said.
It's not clear whether the arrests will have an impact on other crime around the city. "It's really too soon to tell," Kittinger said.
Reach Sarah Burge at (951) 368-9642 or