Councilman Hernandez Held on Drug Charge

City Councilman Mike Hernandez, one of the council’s most outspoken figures, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing cocaine, the result of a surveillance operation by a multi-agency law enforcement task force that included the Los Angeles Police Department, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

Hernandez was taken into custody at 9:10 p.m. at 5th and Wall streets on skid row south of the Civic Center. According to a statement released by the LAPD shortly after 11 p.m., “approximately one-eighth of an ounce of cocaine” was found during a search of the 44-year-old councilman. He was detained for allegedly violating the Health and Safety Code, an offense that can be prosecuted as either a felony or misdemeanor.

Under warrants previously obtained, searches by members of the task force were ongoing at several locations about 11:30 p.m.

Top city officials were quickly notified of Hernandez’s arrest. He was not immediately available for comment, but others expressed their disappointment and dismay.

“The mayor is saddened by this news,” said Noelia Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for Mayor Richard Riordan. “He hopes the councilman’s friends and family will rally around him. . . . Beyond that, it is inappropriate to comment now that this is in the hands of the LAPD.”

According to the statement by the LAPD, Hernandez was arrested after a tip alleging that he had purchased and used cocaine. “L.A. Impact (an interagency law enforcement task force) initiated an investigation to prove or disprove this allegation. Mr. Hernandez was observed on several occasions to procure and use what appeared to be cocaine. L.A. Impact also identified Mr. Hernandez’s sources of supply.

“Search warrants were obtained for Mr. Hernandez’s person and other locations identified during this investigation. On Thursday, Aug. 21 at 9:10 p.m. the search warrants were served. This resulted in the seizure of approximately one-eighth of an ounce from Mr. Hernandez’s person. He was then detained for health and safety code violations.”

The investigation will be submitted to the district attorney’s office for possible criminal prosecution, police said.

Hernandez was first elected to represent a mainly poor and Latino district stretching from the Pico- Union to Elysian Park in 1991 and was reelected last April after a bruising political battle. County Supervisor Gloria Molina portrayed Hernandez as a politician who was out of touch with his constituents and supported community activist Rose Marie Lopez in a surprisingly strong bid to unseat him.

He has been in the news lately as a strong supporter of a plan to build a $200-million downtown sports arena. He recently backed the proposal after winning amendments to foster job-training programs for minorities and to help ensure that replacement homes are found in the same neighborhood for about 900 people living in the 188 apartments to be razed to make way for the arena.

Hernandez also has garnered much attention as the City Council’s staunchest opponent of the ban of gasoline-powered leaf blowers. He has lobbied colleagues on the council to adopt a one-year moratorium on enforcement.

He said the statute has created enormous divisions in the city and has generated “racist” accusations that gardeners are too lazy to use brooms instead of blowers.

Hernandez, a longtime Latino activist, former bail bondsman and grass-roots community leader in northeast Los Angeles, won the special election in August 1991, to fill the council seat vacated by Molina when she moved to the Board of Supervisors. His first few years in office earned mixed reviews. Critics argued that he spoke out on too many issues and his confrontational style alienated other council members.