By Lauren McSherry

Last month Los Altos police arrested several alleged drug dealers who police believed were selling marijuana and cocaine to Los Altos High School students. Last week they arrested two additional individuals for drug possession. One is suspected of dealing to students at the high school.

Like the previous case that dented the operation of a suspected narcotics ring in November, the arrests resulted from a routine traffic stop last Wednesday when a Los Altos police officer pulled over a driver for a seat-belt violation.

The probation status of a passenger in the car led to a search of the vehicle, said Detective Scott Sweezey.

The officer uncovered a spray-paint canister with a false bottom that contained marijuana and a hollowed-out hardcover book with a cache of suspected cocaine.

The driver, 20-year-old Richard Chen of Palo Alto, was arrested and booked for possession and sale of cocaine, Sweezey said.

“We had information from several informants that Chen was part of the group supplying cocaine and marijuana to Los Altos High School students,” Sweezey said. “Through his criminal network his name would get out and (students) would contact him. We don’t suspect he was hanging out at the high school.”

Police believe students would arrange drug sales with Chen either in person or by cell phone, Sweezey said.

Police are not releasing the name of the vehicle’s passenger or the names of those arrested in November because charges are pending.

A tip from the passenger helped police obtain a search warrant for the home of a suspected Redwood City dealer who may have been Chen’s supplier, Sweezey said.

Los Altos police and the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force recovered small amounts of cocaine and drug paraphernalia used for the sale of cocaine, including packaging materials and a scale, when they searched the suspected dealer’s house last Thursday. The alleged dealer is not in custody, Sweezey said.