A downtown Vallejo sting targeting motorists accused of soliciting sex workers ended with 10 arrests and a set of shredded tires, according to police, after a driver allegedly tried to bolt from officers during the operation.
Operation and pursuit
Officers set up along downtown corridors and said they watched drivers circling the same blocks and pulling over to talk with sex workers, according to KRON4. When police tried to stop one car, the driver allegedly took off, triggering a felony pursuit.
Officers reported using spike strips to deflate the fleeing vehicle’s tires and bring the chase to a stop on Sacramento Street near Wilson Avenue, as detailed by KRON4. A photo that accompanied that coverage was credited to the Vallejo Police Department.
Downtown focus
Vallejo police have run ongoing operations aimed at deterring buyers and reducing street-level prostitution in the city’s core. In this latest sweep, officers said they focused on Marin Street and Sonoma Boulevard, where complaints about commercial sex activity have been recurring.
The Vallejo Police Department posts updates on enforcement programs and press releases describing how the agency pairs proactive policing with outreach to people it believes may be exploited.
Arrestees and alleged actions
Traffic stops tied to the operation led to 10 arrests on suspicion of solicitation and related offenses, according to KRON4. Police said several of those booked were from outside Vallejo, including residents of Hayward, Pittsburg, San Pablo, Windsor and Healdsburg.
Officers also alleged that one man tried to escape by throwing his car into reverse toward patrol vehicles before accelerating away, which they say prompted the use of spike strips. Authorities have not released the suspects’ names or a full breakdown of charges beyond solicitation.
Legal note
California typically charges buying sex under Penal Code 647(b). Local materials also warn that using a vehicle to solicit can lead to additional fallout, including administrative action against a driver’s license.
The Vallejo Police Department explains these options in its Report John Program document, which lays out why the city targets buyers while steering people who may be trafficked or otherwise exploited toward services.
Vallejo police say the investigation is still active and are asking anyone with information to contact the department. Tips can be called in to the non-emergency line at (707) 648-4321 or submitted through the agency’s online tip portal.
