Local News in Brief : Police Ram Rock Houses

Los Angeles police had eight people in custody Thursday after using their battering ram to break into an alleged rock house--the first time in eight months that the armored vehicle has been used.

The battering ram was brought into action Wednesday night after years of legal wrangling over its use. In Wednesday night’s raid, the ram slammed into a fortified house on West 62nd Street.

In addition to the arrests, police seized about $10,000 in rock cocaine and about $500 in marijuana.

“It was the most heavily fortified rock house we’ve seen in a couple of years,” said Police Cmdr. William Booth. The house had gun turrets and was fortified with metal bars and steel mesh reinforcements, he said.

Police Chief Daryl F. Gates pledged to roll out the vehicle on more drug raids. And Thursday night police did just that, striking at a suspected rock house in the 1600 block of East Vernon Avenue.

A neighbor said he saw police throw smoke bombs into the location after using the battering ram.

Booth said five people were taken into custody and “money, dope and guns” were seized.

“This was a lot more successful than last night,” he said.

“They (the police) need to come here more often,” said Ino Salcedo, 19, a construction worker who lives across the street.