North Hills. The Vice Unit of the LAPD’s Mission Police Station
conducted a sting operation on
August 22, 2013, targeting men who
solicit women for prostitution along the Sepulveda Corridor in North
Hills. The four-hour operation caught 19 men, mostly locals, for
soliciting undercover female vice officers for sex in exchange for money.
The sting focused on two San
Fernando Valley motels, the Travel Inn and the Palm Tree Inn, both in the 8500
block of Sepulveda Boulevard.
“The motels can act as a magnet for
crime, but we’re lucky to have cooperative motel proprietors who are partners
with us in weeding out the criminal element,” said Captain Todd Chamberlain,
commanding officer of the Mission Police Station. “Most of these men are
not criminals, per se, but their willingness to solicit prostitutes is what
keeps the vice activity and its related crimes here.”
Patrol officers, narcotics
investigators, and gang officers regularly patrol these many motels, from
Roscoe Boulevard, north to Devonshire Street, routinely finding criminal
activity. “Stolen cars and stolen loot from stores and homes are common,
as well as parolees,” explained Capt. Chamberlain. “While the motels are
a legitimate business, we want to discourage any and all illicit activity, as
do the owners.”
Targeting the Johns for arrest,
rather than the prostitutes, is just another way to discourage a bad element
from hanging out along the Sepulveda Corridor, which lies adjacent to a large
residential neighborhood.
Arrestees ages ranged from 19 years
to 38 years. The majority was from Panorama City, North Hills and, Van
Nuys, while one each traveled from Palmdale, Sherman Oaks, San Bernardino, and
Encino. Seven men claimed to be unemployed, and the remainder came from
blue-collar jobs like construction, auto repair, and carpentry. The
charge was 647(b) PC, a misdemeanor crime for soliciting prostitution.
“We’re publicizing this to
discourage vice activity by reducing the demand,” Capt. Chamberlain
added. “For other men thinking of coming here, be warned: this
time, these men were just JOHNs, but next time we may up the ante by releasing
the real names of the JOHNs arrested.”
Anonymous tips can be called
into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting
274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages
should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and
follow the prompts.
Sources: www.lapdonline.org and www.mmp.org
