Nine people were arrested during a prostitution sting in a well-known prostitution corridor of Santa Ana.
Members of the Santa Ana Police Department‘s Vice and Narcotic Unit began an investigation around 5:30 a.m. in the Jack in the Box parking lot at 820 N. Harbor Blvd. where a woman was seen walking away from two vehicles.
As the woman walked up and down the corridor, two males were observed exiting one of the vehicles in an effort to “supervise the activities and safety of the prostitute,” a Santa Ana Police Department official said.
A third male was later located in one of vehicles, police said.
The woman eventually entered a vehicle of a prospective customer, at which time detectives stopped the vehicle for further investigation.
Through their investigation and statements made by the woman, as well as statements obtained from the suspects, the detectives were able to determine that a 17-year old girl was also being trafficked for prostitution by the three male suspects, police said.
The teen was rescued during the operation.
Detectives also learned the woman had been recently victimized by one of the suspects, by driving her to meet prospective clients through the internet commercial sex trade, police said.
All parties admitted coming to Southern California from the Bay Area, police added.
In conclusion of the investigation, three were arrested for suspicion of human trafficking and six were arrested for suspicion of solicitation for prostitution.
— City News Service