Police Press Motels to Keep Prostitutes, Pushers Out

Continuing a policy of putting pressure on motels suspected of catering to prostitutes along Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles police Tuesday urged the manager of a Van Nuys motel to keep prostitutes and drug users from his rooms.

In the last year, police have made 125 arrests, 80 of them involving prostitution, at the Chateau Motel, Sgt. Jeff Sheldon said.

“It’s by far the worst as far as prostitution and drugs,” Sheldon said of the Chateau. At least twice in the past year, undercover officers have arrested Chateau employees for renting rooms with the knowledge that they were to be used for prostitution, he said.

Since March, according to Capt. Tim McBride, vice officers have been gathering evidence against 12 motels along Sepulveda Boulevard, which community residents and business leaders complain is a center of prostitution in the San Fernando Valley. Police have told owners or managers of the motels that, if conditions are not cleaned up, the city will go to court and ask a judge to order the motels to stop renting to prostitutes or face being closed.

Acknowledges Problem

At the Chateau, 6719 Sepulveda Blvd., manager Charlie Lau acknowledged that the motel has a prostitution problem and pledged to help reduce it.

“We’re going to get out all the prostitutes and bad people,” Lau said. “We don’t like those people. They spoil our business.”

Sheldon said police suggested that Lau hire a security guard, cease renting rooms by the hour and require a $20 to $25 key deposit to discourage customers from renting a room for a prostitute and then giving her the key. Officers also recommended improved lighting around the motel, removal of a pay telephone from motel grounds and installation of a security gate that could be opened for motel patrons by buzzer.

Lau said he must discuss the suggestions with the motel’s owner, who is out of town, adding that he is inclined to go along with some--but not all--of the suggestions.

A security guard, better lighting and a security gate would probably help discourage prostitutes and drug dealers, Lau said. He said he is arranging to move the pay phone, which he said attracts “bad people.”

But Lau said he probably would not support a key deposit or the end of hourly rates. Prostitutes rarely rent by the hour, he said. Those who do are legitimate customers, “normal people” who “have a little fun, and then they go back to work,” he said.