The Region - News from Nov. 5, 1986

There is insufficient evidence to file drug charges against a Reseda woman whose 10-year-old daughter called police to report that her mother was using cocaine, prosecutors said. Barbara Jean Cortez, 46, was arrested Oct. 27 after her daughter, Terah Beth, told police that her mother and sister were “freebasing.” Police responded to Terah’s sister’s home in Reseda and found freebasing equipment and a vial. A minute amount of cocaine was in the vial, but there was too little to file charges against Cortez, Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond said. The case has been referred to the city attorney’s office for consideration of possible misdemeanor charges of child endangerment.