Community Corner
28 Arrested in Ashland Prostitution Sting
Police set up the hotel sting through websites that solicit prostitutes. Two of those arrested are minors.
Authorities arrested 28 people, including two minors, in a prostitution sting Wednesday at a hotel in unincorporated San Leandro, Lt. Colby Staysa of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office said.
Nine people were arrested on suspicion of felony counts and 19 others were taken into custody on suspicion of committing a misdemeanor, he said.
Two people were arrested on suspicion of felony pimping and pandering while seven others were arrested on suspicion of felony possession of methamphetamine or drug paraphernalia, Staysa said.
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Those suspected of felonies are expected to be arraigned by Friday at the Hayward Hall of Justice.
The 19 individuals arrested on misdemeanor charges comprise 10 women, including two minors around 16-17 years old, suspected of prostitution, plus nine men arrested on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute, according to Staysa.
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He said the sheriff's office sets up prostitution stings in unincorporated areas regularly, about every couple months, but many are on a smaller scale.
"We were surprised to take that many into custody," he said, adding that those arrested come from across Alameda County.
Authorities set up the sting using multiple websites that help facilitate acts of prostitution. Officers contacted prostitutes and those soliciting them ("johns") and made arrangements to meet them at the hotel, Staysa said.
Such websites are not illegal, he added.
Nine vehicles were also towed in the sting, which began about noon on Wednesday, police said.
Authorities would not release the name of the hotel but said staff cooperated with police.
Investigators with the sheriff's office conducted the operation with help from the Sexual Assault and Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Dublin Police Department. Police services are provided to the City of Dublin under contract with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
"It takes a lot of manpower," Staysa said, "so you have to reach outside your department."
This story reflects an updated version of the article.
