Prostitution crackdown in Hawthorne leads to 25 arrests
Twenty-five people have been arrested during a crackdown on prostitution in Hawthorne over the last three weeks, police said Tuesday.
Arrested were 11 suspected prostitutes, one suspected pimp and 13 alleged “johns,” officials said.
Increased enforcement began Feb. 21 after numerous complaints from the community about illegal activity on Imperial Highway between Inglewood Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard, said Lt. Gary Tomatani of the Hawthorne Police Department.
Hawthorne is seeking “stay away” orders for each of the suspected prostitutes and the pimp, prohibiting them from returning to the area.
Judges have already granted the orders on four of them, Tomatani said. The others are being processed through the courts.
Motorists who propositioned the undercover officers were arrested by a police team stationed nearby.
Thirteen men, including six from Hawthorne, were taken into custody. One of the men offered drugs in exchange for sex, Tomatani said. However, the man did not have any narcotics on him.
Hawthorne police will continue their anti-prostitution operations throughout the year. Anyone with information about prostitution-related activity can call the department at (310) 349-2700.
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-- Nate Jackson
Image: Map shows the stretch of Imperial Highway between Inglewood Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard. Credit: Mapping L.A.
EDITOR'S PICKS:
As George Carlin observed, of all the things you can do to someone, giving them a orgasm is hardly the worst. I look forward to the day that all of those 25 innocents are not jailed. Do I go to prostitutes? No. Do I think they should be free to practice their art? Yes.
Posted by: Jonathan Pullen | March 08, 2011 at 03:26 PM
Why don't the just work at a massage parlor like everyone else in that business- sheesh!
Posted by: greg kyosino | March 08, 2011 at 03:30 PM
Learn from Amsterdam folks. It will be a lot cleaner and more controllable. Everyone is an adult so she or he can do what she or he has to do as a job. Let it be ...legalize it already!
Posted by: Mark | March 08, 2011 at 06:24 PM
those cops should go after REAL criminals, like drug dealers and rapists, not consenting adults who aren't violating anyone's rights.
Posted by: fattie mcfat | March 08, 2011 at 06:40 PM
What a waste of time and money. Go after some real criminals like illegals!
Posted by: swhitS | March 08, 2011 at 07:06 PM
At least the prostitutes are trying to make money, rather than taking money. To the cops, go back to your donut shops and be happy.
Posted by: 1muley1 | March 08, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Why are comments moderated? Why dont they appear until they have been approved? Did this country lose the right to free speech? Can some "educated" individual please explain this.
Posted by: 1muley1 | March 08, 2011 at 08:02 PM
What does "john" here mean, please
Posted by: Hambo | March 09, 2011 at 04:33 AM
@ Julio - abortion is killing of a life!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | March 09, 2011 at 09:53 AM
Im glad they got a pimp too. Usually the pimp gets away even though he/she's crime is often more disgusting than the prostitutes.
Posted by: LB Man | March 09, 2011 at 02:42 PM