DRUGS AT CITY HALL; POLICE FIND COCAINE, POT IN HERNANDEZ'S OFFICE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Hernandez was seen by officers making eight apparent drug buys in the month leading up to his arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession, according to police statements.

At one point, the police surveillance team videotaped Hernandez apparently using cocaine in his city car, the statements said.

The affidavits, filed Wednesday in Municipal Court along with documents following up on search warrants, said officers found cocaine residue on the councilman's desk and marijuana in a candy box in Hernandez's office at City Hall.

On the night of his arrest, officers reported recovering about an eighth of an ounce of cocaine, plastic tubes and various drug paraphernalia from Hernandez, according to the documents. In his city-owned car, a tan Chevrolet Blazer, officers reported recovering a red canvas bag with a plastic package of marijuana and rolling papers.

Hernandez, 45, remained at the private drug rehabilitation facility that he checked into hours after his arrest a week ago. Aides said he had no comment. His attorney, Charles English, did not return telephone calls.

District Attorney Gil Garcetti is expected to announce today what charges he will file against Hernandez, who is scheduled to be arraigned Friday. Hernandez was elected in 1991 to a district representing Northeast Los Angeles and could lose his seat if he is convicted of a felony.

The affidavits filed with the search warrants detail how the investigation began July 21 by an anti-drug task force of officers from several Southern California law-enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department.

Ronald Hodges, an LAPD officer assigned to the task force, said in an affidavit that, on eight occasions during the monthlong investigation, Hernandez was seen making what officers believed were drug buys. In one instance, he appeared to be using cocaine, detectives said. Some of the incidents were captured on videotape.

In a report broadcast Wednesday night on KCAL-TV (Channel 9), a man identified by police as Hernandez was shown on a videotape pausing to raise his hand to his face inside his vehicle shortly after leaving an apartment complex with his hand in his pocket. In an affidavit, detectives claimed that Hernandez snorted cocaine in the front seat as he made a ``jerking motion'' with his hands and later rubbed his gums, teeth and nose.

According to the affidavits, Hernandez rarely went to his Cypress Park home and spent nights in an aide's home or in his City Hall offices.

Officials with the task force said they delayed making an arrest while they collected sufficient information to obtain search warrants.

On the night of his arrest, Hernandez was seen going to an apartment building in the 10900 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Pacoima. He was taken into custody after apparently purchasing powder cocaine from Jose Gallardo, who lived in the building, the affidavit said. Gallardo also was arrested.

In Hernandez's City Hall office, the search warrant papers said, officers found cocaine residue on the desktop, a red pocket knife and a business card. In a desk drawer, officers found more cocaine, the candy box of marijuana and a Rolodex card with Gallardo's name.

Officers said they found cash, cocaine and marijuana in searches of Gallardo's home and that of a third man, Jess Ramirez of Arleta.

Hodges' statement gave this account of the drug buys:

On July 24, Hernandez was tailed to Ramirez's home in the 9600 block of Amboy Street in Arleta.

Four days later, Hernandez was followed to Gallardo's apartment after making an appearance at a Boys & Girls Club. He left after 20 minutes.

On July 29, officers again found Hernandez at Gallardo's, but were unable to follow him.

On July 30, Hernandez stayed 35 minutes at Gallardo's and then went to a Burbank liquor store where he bought magazines, a videotape and cigarette papers. From there, he was followed to the Duarte home of an aide, Pauline Mendoza, according to an affidavit.

The affidavit said Hernandez returned to Gallardo's on July 31, stayed 10 minutes, then went to a Hollywood restaurant and on to City Hall, where he apparently spent the night.

At that point, the task force broke off much of its surveillance, concentrating on Gallardo and Ramirez.

On Aug. 4, with Gallardo under surveillance, Hernandez was seen at his apartment for about 25 minutes.

Hodges said he followed Hernandez from there to a convenience store, where another officer another went inside.

``While inside the 7-11 Market, (the detective) observed Michael Hernandez to appear very nervous and agitated when speaking to the cashier,'' the affidavit said. ``He observed Michael Hernandez speaking to the cashier in such a rapid manner that it caused the cashier to ask Michael Hernandez several times to repeat what he wanted.

``(The detective) also noticed that Michael Hernandez was profusely sweating, especially around the back of his neck.''

From there, Hernandez again went to Mendoza's apartment before the surveillance was temporarily broken off.

The next two nights, Aug. 5 and 6, Hernandez was seen at Gallardo's. Hernandez was seen in his car apparently snorting cocaine Aug. 6, according to the affidavit, which said this was caught on videotape.

Throughout the surveillance, the affidavit said, officers also saw Hernandez make routine public appearances at events and go to the LAPD Central Division several times to gas up his car.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

PHOTO (1) Undercover detectives say their videotape shows Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Hernandez snorting cocaine in his car.

(2 -- color) Mike Hernandez