COPS HIT SUSPECTED VALLEY PROSTITUTION DENS.Byline: Ryan Oliver Staff Writer In one of the LAPD's largest prostitution stings in several years, vice detectives fanned out across the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. on Wednesday and simultaneously raided seven suspected prostitution dens fronting as legitimate businesses. Approximately 100 officers took part in ``Operation Silver Bullet silver bullet - magic bullet ,'' netting 14 arrests, said Detective Rick McElroy. ``Because of the influx of locations, it's been necessary to do unconventional means of enforcement to keep a lid on this type of activity,'' McElroy said. McElroy said prostitution dens, many of them operating as chiropractic chiropractic (kīrəprăk`tĭk) [Gr.,=doing by hand], medical practice based on the theory that all disease results from a disruption of the functions of the nerves. and aromatherapy aromatherapy Therapy using essential oils and water-based colloids extracted from plant materials to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual health and balance. Single or combined extracts may be diffused into inhaled air, used in massage oil, or added to bathwater. clinics, have blossomed in the Valley over the past year. The number of known clinics has increased from approximately a half-dozen to more than 30. Early Wednesday evening, undercover detectives arrived at 19 suspected locations, seven of which were discovered to be closed upon arrival. The detectives, posing as customers, were able to obtain sufficient cause to bust seven of the remaining businesses after they were propositioned by employees, McElroy said. Arrests were made at suspected prostitution dens in Reseda, Chatsworth, North Hollywood and Encino. The 14 arrests were all for solicitation solicitation In criminal law, the act of asking, inducing, or directing someone to commit a crime. The person soliciting another becomes an accomplice to the crime. The term also refers to the act of obtaining bribes, as well as to the crime of a prostitute who offers sexual , operating a house of prostitution and residing in a house of prostitution, as well as business license violations, he said. ``I think we were very successful tonight,'' said Lt. Rick Shields. ``Any time you get anything with a lot of bodies like that, it makes a statement that we're out there doing enforcement.'' Police say the operations are increasing in the Valley because they supply higher-caliber women than streetwalkers Streetwalkers were an English rock band of the mid-1970s led by two former members of Family, vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist John "Charlie" Whitney. Other members included Bob Tench, a former collaborator of Jeff Beck, and Nicko McBrain, who later played drums with Iron , are more difficult for police to target and they are increasingly being run by Russian and Korean crime syndicates. Often, police shut the operations down but within a few days they reopen re·o·pen tr. & intr.v. re·o·pened, re·o·pen·ing, re·o·pens 1. To open or be opened again: Officials reopened the airport after the snow was cleared. Schools reopen in September. with a new owner and new women, officials said. For this reason, city prosecutors have recently begun to pressure strip-mall owners to evict such tenants. Ryan Oliver, (818) 713-3669 ryan.oliver(at)dailynews.com |
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