54 Arrested in Prostitution Sweep

Police conducting a sting along Beach Boulevard arrested 16 women suspected of prostitution and 38 men suspected of soliciting undercover officers, authorities said Monday.

Using female officers posing as street prostitutes on Friday and Saturday nights, police arrested the men and impounded their cars. The women were arrested on suspicion of solicitation, lewd conduct and indecent behavior after approaching plainclothes male officers, Lt. Stephen H. Sain said.

All 54 were held at Anaheim City Jail.

Sain said that efforts to target areas of prostitution “are showing very positive results and the Anaheim Police Department is committed to continue this type of program.”

During the second day of the sweep, Sain said, “the male officers posing as customers found it increasingly difficult to even locate female street prostitutes. It was also noted that the number of males soliciting the female officers began decreasing as well.”