Record Arrests for Soliciting

San Diego police arrested 105 men for solicitation Friday night and early Saturday in what they believe is the largest number of such arrests in the city’s history.

From 6 p.m. Friday until 3:30 a.m. Saturday, eight plainclothes female officers were stationed in the area around the 4700 block of El Cajon Blvd., said police spokesman Bill Robinson.

“The majority of those arrested were blue-collar types, though two engineers, an attorney, a teacher, and an accountant were among those who were issued a misdemeanor citation,” Robinson said.

He said female patrons of businesses in the area had complained to owners about being propositioned by men.

“That’s how bad it had become,” Robinson said.

He said the operation, under the direction of the department’s vice unit and Sgts. Harvey Kitchel and Mark Foreman, began after police received complaints from those owners.

One of those arrested, a 17-year-old, was booked into Juvenile Hall after he attempted to trade narcotics for sex, Robinson said.

Another man was detained when, after realizing he was caught, he tried to flee in his car, eventually striking two parked cars and shearing a utility pole, he said.