Man Held on Suspicion of Trying to Buy Drug

A man who allegedly tried to get a teenage girl to sell him cocaine was being held in the Ventura County Jail on Saturday in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Simi Valley Police Sgt. Fred James said officers were tipped off by the 15-year-old girl, who said she was approached by the man at 3:30 p.m. Friday at a bus stop on Cochran Street near Simi Valley High School. Police say Robert Lee Smith, 53, asked the girl if she could get him some cocaine. The girl gave him a telephone pager number and soon after, Smith allegedly called the number and left a message to call his home, James said.

The girl returned the call and notified police after she realized that Smith was serious in his request to buy the drug, James said. After receiving a phone call from an undercover officer, James said, Smith agreed to meet the officer later that day in front of the Brunswick Valley Bowl, 5255 Cochran St.

There, Smith was to give the officer $40 in exchange for one-fourth of a gram of cocaine, James said.

After handing over the cash and receiving what he thought was cocaine, Smith was arrested by Simi Valley police officers and booked into the East Valley Jail, according to James.

Smith was being held on suspicion of soliciting a minor to sell cocaine, purchase of a substance in lieu of cocaine and soliciting a minor to sell cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public school.