NINE ARRESTED IN E. PALO ALTO DRUG STING

EAST PALO ALTO -- The San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force arrested nine
people who solicited undercover police officers here for drugs over the
weekend, police said Monday.

The sting in the 500 block of Sacramento Street was run late Friday evening
through early Saturday morning at the request of East Palo Alto police, who
wanted to target non-residents who come to the city to buy rock cocaine,
Lt. Don O'Keefe said.

``The message we want to get across is if you come to East Palo Alto to buy
drugs there is a good chance you will be arrested,'' O'Keefe said.

Of the nine people arrested, eight were from other cities, including Palo
Alto, Mountain View, Santa Clara, South San Francisco, Redwood City and
Sunnyvale. Among those arrested were a scientist, a computer worker and a
computer engineer.

``Now they'll be in the court system and can get help for whatever
addiction they may have,'' O'Keefe said.