Police had tough words for prostitutes and pimps as officers
wrapped up an investigation that put five out-of-town women behind
bars for solicitation.
Police had tough words for prostitutes and pimps as officers wrapped up an investigation that put five out-of-town women behind bars for solicitation.
“They are in conflict with our philosophy of maintaining a city in which our residents and law-abiding visitors can enjoy a safe place to live, work and play,” police said in a press release announcing the arrests. “The disposition of our Department is that we will take whatever steps are necessary to dissuade those who choose to engage in illegal activities within our city from doing so.”
Police had been hearing that people were coming to Gilroy to conduct “prostitution-related transactions” and began an investigation that resulted in the arrest of five women at unspecified Gilroy hotels about 6 p.m. Friday, police said. The women had been using the Internet and other unspecified ways to get clients for prostitution, police said.
During interviews with police, the women admitted they had been arrested for similar crimes and at least one had been involved in “procuring a minor for lewd and/or lascivious acts,” police said.
While police said they did not arrest any men related to this prostitution sting, they offered a stern warning.
“We are also aware of males soliciting women in the same fashion,” police said. “They are not at all immune from prosecution and investigations into their activities could follow suit.”
The five arrested women were:
-Leah Marie Belanger, 23, of Seaside
-Keisha Shamane Pagan, 38, of Sacramento
-Crystal Starr Haverly, 29, of Monterey
-Kristina Marie Kenna, 20, of San Jose
-Christy Marie Cravalho, 27, of unspecified address
Anyone with information about this or other incidents can call police at 846-0350.
