12 ARRESTED IN DRUG RAIDS IN SAN JOSE NEIGHBORHOOD

Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies arrested 12 people Tuesday and
seized varying amounts of methamphetamine, rock cocaine and marijuana
in raids conducted on three houses and seven apartments within a mile
of the Luther Burbank Elementary School in San Jose.

The raids were part of a wider six-month investigation, known as
``Operation Roundup,'' which was launched after several residents
complained about neighborhood drug dealing.

Overall during the operation, deputies have arrested around 80 people,
including 43 for drug possession, three for auto theft, three for
failing to register as sex offenders, three for weapons violations and
17 for being drunk in public or illegal alcohol sales.

``This is a big step in cleaning out all the drug sales in the area,''
said Santa Clara County Supervisor Jim Beall, whose office initially
began receiving complaints from residents. ``We're going to continue
to do this in that area so drug dealers better run for cover in that
neighborhood, because we're not going to stop.''

In addition to the narcotics seized Tuesday, deputies confiscated
$10,000 in cash. One dependent adult and three juveniles were taken
into protective custody. Search warrants were served at the residences
on South Willard Avenue and Page Street.

District Attorney George Kennedy has indicated he is likely to file
charges of dependent adult abuse because of living conditions
revealed by the raid.