LOS ANGELES (Reuter) A prominent Los Angeles city
councilman arrested for suspected possession of cocaine has
checked into a drug rehabilitation center, according to his
spokesman.

Los Angeles police said Councilman Mike Hernandez had been
arrested and booked Thursday night on suspicion of possessing
cocaine and related violations of the city's health and safety
codes. He was released Friday morning after posting $10,000
bail.

His spokesman, Tony Perez, told reporters Hernandez had
admitted himself to the undisclosed rehabilitation clinic to be
treated for ``drug dependency.''

Morrie Goldman, the councilman's chief of staff, told
reporters that Hernandez recognized substance abuse as ``an
illness, and he wants to deal with it.''

Perez said he spoke to the councilman late Thursday night.
''He was very calm. He recognized it (the drug problem) ... and
he said 'I want to clean this up,''' Perez added.

He said Hernandez, 44, who had campaigned against drugs, had
been under considerable stress since the death of his mother six
weeks ago, ``though we're not offering that as an excuse at
all.''

The police statement said Hernandez, a former bail bondsman
and a champion for the rights of the city's Hispanic community,
was served with a search warrant and arrested after officers
found what appeared to be oneeighth of an ounce of cocaine on
him.

The police statement said: ``The Los Angeles Interagency
Metropolitan Police Crime Task Force, or L.A. IMPACT, received
information alleging the purchase and use of cocaine by Los
Angeles City Councilman Mike Hernandez.

``L.A. IMPACT initiated an investigation to prove or
disprove this allegation. Mr. Hernandez was observed on several
occasions to procure and use what appeared to be cocaine.''

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan said in a statement he
was ``saddened ... to learn of Councilman Mike Hernandez's
arrest on drugrelated charges. I am hopeful that his family and
friends will rally around him to offer support and any
professional assistance he may need.''

Police also arrested two men Friday they allege supplied
Hernandez with cocaine, a spokesman for L.A. IMPACT said. Jess
Ramirez, 41, and Jose Gallardo, 34, were booked on suspicion of
possessing cocaine for sale, the spokesman said.

Hernandez is due to be arraigned in court on Aug. 29.