MONTROSE AREA DRAWING PROSTITUTION SIX ARRESTED IN `MAYBERRY'-LIKE COMMUNITY SINCE DECEMBER.

Byline: EUGENE TONG Staff Writer

MONTROSE -- This tree-covered community in the San Gabriel foothills lined with vintage cabins and quaint shopping -- a home for those looking for a slice of Mayberry in the city -- has become a haven over the past year for women exchanging sexual favors for money.

Just two weeks ago, Glendale police following an anonymous tip arrested a 42-year-old woman on suspicion of prostitution in the 2900 block of Honolulu Avenue, where an unmarked office housed a massage clinic -- the sixth person nabbed on suspicion of the misdemeanor in the La Crescenta-Montrose area since December.

``It gives new meaning to the term `bedroom community,''' said John Drayman, president of the Montrose Shopping Park Association, a trade group representing some 200 restaurants, antique shops and other merchants.

``They view the Montrose-La Crescenta area as quiet and unobtrusive, that they can operate undisturbed. Our area is often mentioned with the name `Mayberry.' It's so contrary to our image up here.'' That's why prostitution operations appear to be drawn to the area.

``Illegal solicitation for prostitution is not something you would want to advertise,'' said Glendale police Lt. Gary Montecuollo, who investigates vice crimes.

``The attempt is to keep it below the radar of discovery by the police and the city groups who would keep an eye out for them.

``They don't want to set a sign that says `Illegal massage done here.'''

Authorities said Xiaoyan Zhao, who is believed to be a transient living out of various hotels, was arrested Aug. 28 after offering an undercover police officer sex for money. She is scheduled to be arraigned in Glendale Superior Court on Sept. 29.

The clinic is listed as SL Acu-Care in phone directories, though there were no signs on the building, and no business permits were filed for the location, police said. Inside is a clinic waiting room, its walls decorated with a diagram of human acupuncture points.

A woman who only gave her last name as Li answered calls to the clinic on a recent day. She said she had just started working there, answering a classified ad for a masseuse in a Chinese-language newspaper, and was unaware of any illegal activities or the arrest. The clinic's owner was not available.

Police had raided two other acupuncture/massage treatment clinics along Honolulu Avenue in December, arresting four women on suspicion of prostitution from the Royal Acupuncture Clinic, housed in a medical office building in the 2500 block, and the Integrative Pain Clinic in an office building in the 2200 block, in the Montrose Shopping Park.

Feng Wen Liu, 56, and Li Juan Sun, 48, both of Monterey Park, Qing Wang, 46, of Fontana and Mei Ling Yu, 45, of Montrose were cited on suspicion of prostitution. A fifth woman, Hui-Yuing Liang, 37, of Alhambra, was arrested in January. Investigators said the women, who solicited undercover officers, were part of a prostitution ring operated from the two clinics, which have since closed.

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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