Police find cocaine, pit bulls in search

ALAMEDA _ Police officers searching the motel room of a suspected drug dealer Thursday morning came across a pit bull and seven of her puppies, as well as ``crack'' cocaine hidden in a wall.

A tip that truck driver Robert Turner, 40, was selling drugs from the Islander Motel on Central Avenue prompted narcotics officers to search his room about 7:30 a.m., Alameda police Officer Dave Pascoe said.

A police dog sniffed out five grams of cocaine, which Pascoe said was hidden in a wall behind a stereo speaker.

The pit bulls were also found in Turner's room, police said. But it was not immediately clear whether he was breeding the animals at the motel.

Officers seized six puppies. The mother and one pup were left in the care of Turner's roommate, Pascoe said. Turner, who reportedly lives at the motel, was booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance for sale. No weapons were found and no other arrests were made.

Investigators called in Officer Eric Abenoja and his police dog because they said they suspected drugs were hidden somewhere in the room.

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