HAWAIIAN GARDENS : City Administrator Arrested on DUI, Drug Charges
The city administrator of Hawaiian Gardens was arrested early Saturday in Victorville on suspicion of drunken driving and possession of cocaine.
Nelson Oliva, 36, was released on $10,000 bail and was at work Monday morning.
Oliva was stopped shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday after a California Highway Patrol officer noticed his city-owned car weaving from one lane to another on Interstate 15, said Kevin Eads, CHP public affairs officer in Victorville. During a search of the car, officers found a bag containing a white, powdery substance that turned out to be cocaine, Eads said.
Oliva was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and felony possession of about 18 grams of cocaine, Eads said. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 2 in Victorville Municipal Court.
Oliva could not be reached for comment Monday, but his attorney, Andrew M. Stein, said Oliva admits to drinking a considerable amount of alcohol that morning. “He’s embarrassed by the DUI charge, but he strongly denies ever using or possessing cocaine,” Stein said. “We’ll put up a vigorous defense of those charges.”
Three other men in the car were released.
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