By Khalida Sarwari
Santa Cruz police seized cocaine and other drugs, and arrested seven people on drug-related charges as part of a crackdown on illegal drug sales near a bar on Thursday.
Officers seized cocaine, Oxycontin pills and marijuana after serving a search warrant at The Avenue Bar, located at 713 Pacific Ave., along with apartments above the bar.
They arrested seven people as part of the raid and cited three others who were later released, police said.
Those arrested include Mack Palmer, 46; Kentay Broadnax, 37; Reginald Wilcoxen, 43; Rene Lobato, 42; Charles Beard, 63; Nicholas Haeling, 22; and Carta Dixon, 60.
The suspects were arrested on charges that included possession of drug paraphernalia, being under the influence of narcotics, and possession of controlled substances, according to police.
The arrests followed a two-year investigation into increasing reports of drug sales and drug use in that area, police said. More than two-dozen people have been arrested in connection with the operation thus far.
The investigation involved participation from several agencies, among them the Santa Cruz Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Santa Cruz County Anti Crime Team, District Attorney’s Office, and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
Police are continuing with their investigation and anticipate making additional arrests. Investigators are working with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to address the status of The Avenue Bar’s alcohol license.