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Seven prospective johns and one purported pimp were arrested at a local hotel this week in a multi-agency undercover operation aiming to curb prostitution, according to a Pleasanton police spokesperson.
The eight men, whose names were not released, were all booked into the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on suspicion of various crimes, according to Sgt. Reginaldo Gamez. One of the arrestees was a Pleasanton resident.
A sting conducted in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, including Livermore and Hayward police, the undercover operation occurred at an unidentified Pleasanton hotel on Monday in response to community complaints about prostitution activities, Gamez said.
“Undercover officers used fictitious online profile advertisements designed to attract commercial sex purchasers seeking prostitution services,” Gamez said. “During the seven-hour operation, over 50 phone numbers contacted undercover officers in response to the online advertisements.”
Seven men allegedly agreed to pay money for a sexual act and traveled to the hotel, where undercover officers were waiting and arrested them.
Another man claimed to be a pimp and attempted to recruit the undercover officer, according to Gamez. “He made an agreement to offer protection and other services in exchange for a portion of the proceeds. This individual was arrested for felony charges,” the sergeant said.
The eight arrestees were booked into jail on suspicion of various charges, including solicitation of prostitution, resisting arrest and pandering.
“Prostitution often involves human trafficking, drug use and violent crimes such as robbery and assault,” Gamez added. “The Pleasanton Police Department is committed to proactively addressing prostitution activity in our community.”
Another good job Pleasanton Police Department.
James Michael –
Regarding them not catching the vandalism in the act – What do you expect them to be stationed on every corner 24 hours a day to catch people committing crimes? Be realistic.
I’m more annoyed that it sounds like PUSD is handling this internally instead of having police involvement. That’s going to be a slap on the wrist – no doubt.
Very thankful for this sting operation. Human trafficking is a HUGE problem, bigger than some kids vandalizing PMS. Yes what the kids did was terrible, and the PD, school and their parents will deal with it. No the PD would not have able to stop it, the school was locked up and the kids found a way in. To lament the fact that it happened, and to somehow equate it to, or say that it was more important that human beings being peddled, is beyond comprehension. From what I understand, it was a group of kids no one would have expected, so that’s interesting.
Pro law…that’s exactly what I tell my anti gun friends when they tell me that the police will protect me. The police can’t really protect. All they can really do is investigate.
I wish the PPD would spend more effort enforcing traffic laws.
Nice takedown of some horny dudes, basically saving no actual trafficked women.
How about those multiple shady businesses on 1st street that have popped up in the last couple of years, start checking those out PPD then maybe move on to the other ones opening up all over town. We don’t need that many “adjustment centers” in this town.
I wish the PPD would devote as much time and energy to removing the homeless from our parks and trails. Too bad they weren’t on the ball when the middle school was being vandalized which was only a block away from their department.