FOUR BROTHERS, SISTER ARRESTED IN DRUG PROBE

The arrests of five siblings have capped a monthlong investigation by
Watsonville police into alleged sales and distribution of narcotics from
the siblings' two homes.

Sgt. Edmundo Rodriguez said a search Saturday by the department's Direct
Action Response Team turned up a small amount of cocaine and suspected
drug-sale proceeds of about $2,300 at the homes, at 788 Rodriguez St. and
218-A Sudden St.

Arrested at the two residences, police said, were 22-year-old Eduardo,
26-year-old Manuel, 32-year-old Rosalva, 18-year-old Juvenal and
28-year-old Rocio Ortiz. Eduardo and Manuel Ortiz were taken into custody
at their Rodriguez Street home on suspicion of possession for sale of
narcotics and conspiracy to sell narcotics, investigators said. Their
sister, Rosalva, was arrested on suspicion of maintaining a place where
narcotics are sold, then released, police said.

The two Ortiz brothers living at the Sudden Street home -- Juvenal and
Rocio -- were held on suspicion of conspiracy to sell narcotics. Juvenal
also faces a drug possession charge, and Rocio is accused of maintaining a
drug house. The four brothers were booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.

Laborer alerts police to drug waste dump

A ranch hand who stumbled onto a methamphetamine waste dump south of San
Antonio Reservoir alerted a Monterey County anti-drug team, which uncovered
numerous toxic materials but no suspects.

Sheriff's spokesman Bruce Palmer said that last week, members of the
county's Narcotics Enforcement Unit found chemical containers, contaminated
clothing, bedding material and waste sludge that had been tossed into
Turtle Creek, which borders the Sapague Road waste site.

The team found containers of numerous chemicals and waste sludge from
methamphetamine production. Investigators also unearthed 14 trash bags
containing other contaminants. Several had broken open and spread toxic
debris into the creek. The waste disposal unit of the California Department
of Toxic Waste was called in to clean up the site. The case is under
investigation by the Monterey County Sheriff's and Environmental Health
departments.