ALICE POLICE CRACK DOWN ON DRUGS

Officials Say 17 Arrests Have Been Made So Far And More Could Come Soon

Alice police are hoping to shut down the city's drug trade - for at least a
little while - through a crackdown of suspected drug dealers that has
resulted in 17 arrests since Friday.

Police have warrants for an additional 15 suspected dealers, and officials
are betting that the sweep will convince dealers not yet arrested to cool
down their businesses.

"They don't know who's next," said Lt. Reyes Espinoza. "They don't know
who's doing what."

The crackdown was the result of a six-month undercover investigation in
which officers made buys and gathered evidence.

Among those arrested was Grace Villanueva, an Alice mother who made
headlines earlier this year because of a court battle over the custody of
her children. Child Protective Services took custody of Villanueva's older
daughter in March 1999 after nurses said they found injuries to the child
consistent with sexual abuse. Villanueva was never implicated, and no one
has been charged.

But the child was taken because the alleged abuse occurred while the baby
was in her care and the younger child was taken because authorities thought
the child could be in danger.

Villanueva, who relinquished her parental rights to the children in
September, had tested positive for methadone, which she said she obtained
from a relative who had a prescription.

According to police, Villanueva was in the Jim Wells County Jail on a
$15,000 bond after being arrested Friday on a charge of engaging in
organized criminal activity.

Espinoza said Villanueva was present during a heroin transaction.

Others charged in the sweep as of Monday include:

Jose Martin Garcia, 36, charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine
and engaging in organized crime.

Dina Garcia, 36, charged with possession of cocaine and engaging in
organized crime.

Jose Paiz, 21, charged with possession of cocaine and engaging in organized
crime.

Elizabeth Salinas, 24, charged with delivery of cocaine and engaging in
organized crime.

Jorge Homero Tamez, 24, charged with engaging in organized crime.

David Escamilla, 18, charged with possession of cocaine and engaging in
organized crime.

Others arrested have yet to see a magistrate judge.

Alice Police Chief Jack Compton said the sweeps should result in a general
decrease in thefts and robberies, at least for a few days or weeks because
drug use typically drives most property crimes as users try to pay for
their habit.

Espinoza said the Alice Police Department has performed the drug sweeps on
a regular basis for at least two decades.

"We've seen it and it works," Espinoza said. "You can see a dramatic
decline in thefts and burglaries."