SAN CLEMENTE : Police Raid 2 Homes and Arrest 5 People

A team of 20 police officers raided two homes over the weekend, arresting five people on a variety of charges, including possession of cocaine for sale and possession of stolen property, authorities said Sunday.

The raids, which began at 8:15 p.m. Friday, were in a north San Clemente neighborhood that police said has been the scene of several disturbances over the past few weeks.

“A team of 20 officers served a search warrant on an apartment . . . where undercover officers had bought cocaine and marijuana while doing an investigation of criminal activity in the neighborhood,” Sgt. Richard E. Downing said.

Arrested for possession of half an ounce of cocaine was Mario Hurtato, 25, who lives at the apartment in the 100 block of West Escalones. Also arrested at the scene for outstanding misdemeanor warrants were Lorenzo Hurtato, 20, and Francisco Cazares, 30, Downing said.

One hour later, police went to a home on the 800 block of Calle Puente, behind West Escalones, and arrested two men on suspicion of having stolen property, believed to have been taken from a local dentist’s office two weeks earlier, Downing said. Joel Gonzales, 18, and Juan Nejorado, 20, both of San Clemente, remain in custody.

Councilman Brian J. Rice said the arrests indicate the city’s proactive stance on stomping out minor criminal activities before they escalate.

“Sending 20 officers out there makes a statement that the city is going to accentuate that area,” Rice said. “We have not had anything of a tremendous concern happen, but the same problems keep cropping up in the same area, so the city is coming from a very proactive angle to prevent things from getting out of hand.”