The Region - News from June 17, 1987

California Highway Patrol officers wearing rubber gloves picked through shrubbery adjacent to U.S. 101 to recover a stash of rock cocaine tossed from a car near downtown Santa Barbara. The cocaine was thrown from a car window as a motorist was being pulled over for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol, officers said. They found some cocaine inside the car, as well as a loaded pistol, a bulletproof vest and two small children, who were turned over to child-protection services, officers said. Roberto Alverado, 37, and Josephine Rojas, 29, of Hacienda Heights were booked for investigation of possessing controlled substances, being under the influence of controlled substances, possessing concealed firearms and child endangerment, CHP Officer Alan Katje said. Alverado also was booked for investigation of driving under the influence, Katje said.