Simi Police Storm House, Arrest 4 in Cocaine Raid

Simi Valley police stormed a four-bedroom house in Simi Valley Friday morning, arrested four people on drug charges and seized $2,000 worth of cocaine in an effort to “clean up a nice, quiet neighborhood,” a department spokesman said.

Officers said two of the four, arrested about 7 a.m. in the 1800 block of Patricia Avenue, were held on $5,000 bail on suspicion of possessing cocaine: Sandra Dodson, 25, and Stephen Erskine, 24.

Jolynn Anderson, 24, also suspected of cocaine possession, is free on $5,000 bail.

Jeff Collins, age unknown, was held on $10,000 bail, suspected of possessing cocaine for sale, Sgt. Danny Dunbar said. The four were being held at the East Valley Ventura County sheriff’s station, he said.

“We had been getting complaints from neighbors about coke dealing for quite a while,” Dunbar said. Once inside, special weapons and tactics team officers found 1.5 ounces of cocaine--”not a ton, but not a gram either,” Dunbar commented.

Officers confiscated several guns, including a loaded Mac-11 9-mm semi-automatic pistol.

There was no violence.

“This was more along the lines of cleaning up the neighborhood than a major drug operation,” Lt. Jon Ainsworth said. “It’s a significant kind of case for those who live in the area.”