Huntington Beach Sweep Nets 15 Narcotics Suspects

After a two-week undercover drug operation, Huntington Beach police swept through the city’s Commodore Circle area Thursday and arrested 14 adults and one juvenile on suspicion of possessing and selling cocaine.

Commodore Circle, an area of deteriorating apartments, has long been a problem for the city. Police said they began their undercover operation in Commodore Circle in response to “numerous” complaints from residents about drug trafficking in the area.

Police Sgt. Dan Johnson said Thursday night that a total of 20 undercover officers launched a drug-buy operation in the Commodore Circle area two weeks ago.

Johnson said the undercover narcotics detectives found an abundance of cocaine available for sale. They were able to purchase cocaine in amounts ranging from one-quarter gram to 3 1/2 grams per transaction during the two-week period, he added.

Suspects were pinpointed in 29 separate drug buys during the two-week undercover operation, Johnson said. On Thursday at 4 p.m., 40 Huntington Beach officers ringed the 7700 block of Commodore Circle and arrested the 15 suspects without serious incident, Johnson said.

“A few of them tried to run away, but we caught them,” said Johnson, who took part in the operation. He said all of the suspects are young, ranging from the teen-age to about 30 years of age.

The adult suspects were taken to Huntington Beach Jail, and the lone juvenile suspect was taken to Orange County Juvenile Hall, Johnson said.

“Further arrests can be expected,” Johnson said. “Police Chief Bill Payne has emphasized a zero tolerance (drug) policy in Huntington Beach.”