Where Children Have Already Seen It All, ‘Zero Tolerance’ Holds Little Fascination

In the two years that Santiago Villegas has owned his home in Santa Ana, his house has been shot at twice, and his wife and children have been harassed by drug peddlers who have taken over the Walnut Street neighborhood.

“They ask my children, ‘Hey, you want to buy marijuana? You got $2? $3?’ ” a frustrated Villegas said Sunday.

“I want to move from here, maybe to Irvine, where I’ve looked at homes,” he said. “But I don’t have enough credit. It’s very expensive to move.”

Only last week, Villegas’ neighborhood, an area west of Bristol and 1st streets, was the location of a major drug sweep by federal and local officials. More than 200 people were arrested on drug and other charges.

Also, officials seized 36 cars worth more than $250,000 in the county’s first use of new federal “zero tolerance” seizure laws.

Rather Have Increased Patrols

On Sunday, residents had mixed emotions about combatting the drug problem with high-profile operations such as the one last week. They would rather have increased patrols to help eradicate troublesome drug pushers and called on the police chief to extend his political influence and help improve neighborhood conditions, they said.

And several Spanish-speaking residents said police should arrest the pushers and “deport them back to Mexico.”

Meanwhile, drug peddlers were plainly visible hustling small amounts of cocaine and marijuana--but far less intensely than the trade before last week’s bust.

“Sure, we saw the police last week, and we also had heavy patrols around here yesterday (Saturday),” Villegas said. “But what happens tomorrow on Monday when I leave my house, and my wife and children again have to contend with these people?”

More than one drug pusher asked a reporter and photographer whether they wanted to buy marijuana or cocaine.

One man, about 19, lifted his T-shirt, which concealed about five plastic bags filled with marijuana.

“What do you want? What do you want to buy, homeboy?” another peddler asked.

In recent months, police have been hard pressed to combat the area’s drug problem. Normal patrols have failed to counteract the savvy peddlers, who ring the neighborhood with lookouts and, when police have gone, dart into Walnut Street to the customers passing in slowly crusing cars.

Car Occupants Stopped, Searched

Police said that during last week’s drug sweep, car occupants seen buying drugs in the neighborhood were followed, stopped and searched.

They said the autos were seized only if the owner drove the car knowing that drugs were in the vehicle.

“The solution is more police. They need to enforce the (drug) laws more strictly here,” Martin Solorio said.

“Our kids have seen everything. They see these men selling marijuana and cocaine--or fighting--and throwing away plastic bags filled with drugs when police drive by.

“They see these things and ask questions out of curiosity. Now they know nearly everything about what goes on here,” Solorio said.