Local News in Brief : Prostitution, Death Uncovered in Raids

What began as the serving of drug violation warrants at two apartments and a house in the Whittier area turned into the breaking up of a prostitution ring and an investigation into the death of a 2-year-old girl, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officers said Thursday.

Fifteen people were arrested, including five women allegedly working as prostitutes in a motel on Pioneer Boulevard in Norwalk, Sheriff’s Detective Bob Berardi said.

The initial raids on the three Whittier locations Wednesday were a joint operation by sheriff’s deputies and Whittier police officers, Berardi said. During the raids, the officers discovered that the daughter of a woman suspect had died in one of the apartments, he said.

The death was being investigated by Whittier homicide detectives who did not release the child’s name or the name of the mother.

The subsequent raid on the motel, Berardi said, was the result of information obtained during the Whittier arrests.

Suspects were booked on charges including possession, sale and being under the influence of drugs as well as pandering and conspiracy to commit prostitution.