Hate Crime Probe Leads to Drug Arrests

GLENDALE — Investigation of a hate crime against Armenians has led Glendale police to a local clearinghouse for drug sales, authorities said.

Four people were arrested at the house in the 700 block of Patterson Street, where detectives on Nov. 23 found $12,000 worth of methamphetamines, Quaaludes and marijuana, and $3,000 in cash, said Detective Mario Yagoda.

Police had been authorized to search the house after linking one of its residents--Laurence Dutra Luiz Jr., 33--to anti-Armenian bumper stickers that have been placed around Glendale.

One of the stickers was placed on the car of two Armenian youths, who filed a vandalism complaint with the police. Yagoda said police believe that Luiz also was responsible for hanging a anti-Armenian banner over a traffic bridge last August.

Luiz, Stephen Cole, 41, Janice Rose Munoz, 30, and Eduardo Salas Perez, 22, were all arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs for sales, Yagoda said.

Prosecutors said that Luiz has already been charged with two misdemeanor counts of vandalism and one misdemeanor count of interfering with an individual’s civil rights.