Scanner Report: Prostitution Sting in the Valley

10:00 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

An undercover LAPD vice team has set-up a sting operation on Lankershim Boulevard. They advise each other via radio on the locations of the possible prostitutes they see.  One of the officers tells the others about a "white pick-up truck" that has stopped near one of the women.

10:04 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

An undercover vice officer has driven up to one of the alleged prostitutes on Lankershim Boulevard. The officer was looking for the woman to make a proposition, but instead, the officer informs the other that she asked him, "Are you a cop?" The undercover officer told her that he wasn't, but the woman said, "You look like a cop." After she declined to discuss any further transaction with the officer,  she tells him, "It's all good. I don't want to deal with it."

10:07 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

One of the undercover vice officers is closely watching a possible 'john' (a customer for prostitution) as he drives in his car next to a woman,  a possible prostitute. The driver rolls down the car's window and the woman approaches. The officer observes that she is "leaning on the window now, and now she's backing away."

The officer radios the other undercover officers that the possible john appears to be parking off on a side street, and alerts the "chase officer" (the officer who catches the crime in progress and makes the arrest)  to follow-up on the man's next move.  The female "chase officer" asks the first officer, "Did she load up (enter the vehicle) or not?"

The first officer tells her that the possible prostitute will probably meet her potential customer again at the side street. The female officer now believes that the possible prostitute has indeed "loaded up" inside the man's car.  The first undercover officer is observing the car from a different angle, but doesn't see the possible prostitute in the car.

10:12 a.m.   Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

The first undercover vice officer discusses with yet another undercover officer the certain 'work procedure' of the particular prostitute they are observing.  The alleged prostitute wants the potential customer to "touch her" before she agrees to get inside the customer's vehicle. This seems to be a tip for the officers that a transaction for possible sexual services is happening. So far the woman has not "loaded" into a customer's vehicle, therefore the officers can only charge her for a "22" (loitering to commit prostitution), at the moment. They will wait for a more serious crime to occur.

10:12 a.m.   Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

At  this particular location on Lankershim Boulevard, the female officer notices another possible prostitute has appeared on the street corner, described as a woman with "straight hair, gray shirt, black shorts." Meanwhile, a "gold Cadillac" is observed to be slowly driving around nearby, with yet another possible prostitute as a passenger.

10:22 a.m.   Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

The undercover vice operation continues. The female police 'look-out' observes a possible prostitute and her possible pimp circling around in their car, scoping out the parking lot where the police look-out is stationed. She advises to the other undercover officers that the pair seems suspicious of her presence, and they finally drive onto the nearby freeway to avoid a criminal bust.

10:30 a.m.  11200 block of Riverside Drive, Studio City

North Hollywood Division LAPD patrol units are called to the scene of a person trespassing at a residence. The alleged trespass suspect is described as "male, white, wearing a gray shirt with blue jeans." Patrol units are directed to respond "code 2" (without lights and sirens).

10:32 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

The undercover vice team has arrested an alleged prostitute and will be transporting her to their station in the Valley.

10:49 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

The vice officers now observe another female prostitute approach the undercover officer who is posing as a customer.  The undercover officer observing her, radios to the others, "she's approaching the vehicle... she's loading... she's loading up."  

10:51 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

The lead officer radios the undercover officer, now with the alleged prostitute, to stop the vehicle in the parking lot nearby. The officer posing as a customer, tells the others that she told him she was "working" (as a prostitute) and then joined him in the vehicle. Inside the car, the officer says she asked him if he was a cop, and the officer tells her otherwise. Then he says she attempts "to touch him" (in a sexual way), twice .  

10:54 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

One of the vice officers radios the senior lead officer and advises that "the McDonald's is starting to look like they're harboring them (the alleged prostitutes)."

10:58 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

One of the vice officers radios the others that the woman (from earlier) is now in custody.  Two of the vice officers inform that they are going to set-up an operation near the McDonald's.

11:05 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

The next step in the vice operation appears to be where one of the female vice officers dresses up and poses as a prostitute, attracting possible 'johns.'

11:09 a.m.  14100 block of Magnolia Boulevard, Sherman Oaks

Van Nuys Division LAPD patrol units are sent to investigate a "suspicious vehicle" in the area. Patrol units are directed to respond "code 2" (no lights or sirens) and check out a "red Acura."

11:15 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

The undercover vice officers are currently watching an alleged prostitute stationed inside the McDonald's. Then a silver Range Rover pulls up in the parking lot. One of the vice officers says, "I think we've seen this car before." The senior lead officer advises the other officers, "Stand by for directions."

11:18 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

A vice officer informs the team he observes, "a female is in the vehicle" (inside the silver Range Rover), along with the male driver.

11:52 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

The vice team spots a woman along the boulevard, but is unsure if she is actually a prostitute. One of the vice officers suggests "trying her," but the undercover officer posing as a customer, seems reluctant, as he doesn't know if she "could be, or not" (a hooker).

12:11 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

One of the undercover officers informs the others of another possible hooker who is walking in the area.  She is described as a "female, Hispanic, with turquoise top." The officer now sees her leaning against an "auto parts shop."

12:13 a.m.  Somewhere along Lankershim Boulevard, San Fernando Valley

An undercover vice officer posing as a 'john' approaches one of the alleged prostitutes on the boulevard to negotiate a possible business transaction. The undercover officer is not successful, and tells the lead officer about the conversation with the woman.

The undercover officer says he asked the woman, using a fake Spanish accent, if "she was working." The undercover officer then tells the lead officer that the alleged prostitute responded with: "me no Inglés, me no Inglés." A surprise set back, the same officer then said he pretended to "not speak English, either" but to no avail.  The lead officer , then radios back, "Okay. Roger."

The team agrees to set-up on another stretch of the boulevard.