Family Told to Halt Drug Sales at Home

An elderly couple and their three granddaughters were ordered Wednesday to halt drug trafficking at their Wast Los Angeles residence in what city officials said was a last-ditch effort through the civil courts to stop more than 15 years of illegal drug sales at the house.

“In this case, the criminal justice system has not worked, $ Deputy City Atty. Pamela Albers said of the dozens of arrests police have made over the years near the house, Which neighbors say has become a Mecca for PCP buyers.

Under the preliminary injunction issued by Superoir Court judge Jack M. Newman, Angel and Elodia Ortiz and their granddaughters could be ordered to vacate the house for three months if they fail to comply with the court order under a little-used law which makes it illegal to use a building for drug sales.

the ortizes were not represented at Wednesday’s hearing, but one of their granddaughters, Teresa Montano, told the judge there are no drugs being sold at the residence.