5 Arrested in Simi Valley Police Sweep
Five Simi Valley residents were arrested on drug charges and other violations during an early morning sweep by police Wednesday as part of a program aimed at reducing violence and vandalism in the city.
A team of 26 officers raided 23 homes in search of people they suspect have gang ties or are involved in tagging groups, said Sgt. Bob Gardner of the Simi Valley Police Department.
Charged with being under the influence of narcotics were: Michael Coker, 21, Charles Smith, 26, and Sandra Fowler, 20. Smith was also held on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, and Coker had been sought on a warrant in an unrelated assault case, Gardner said.
Doug Lehman, 18, was charged with possession of marijuana, and a 15-year-old runaway girl was charged with violating probation.
The sweep was the 15th in a series of raids conducted in the past year in Simi Valley, Gardner said.
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