Undercover agents with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office cited 21 men over a two-day sting targeting people trying to buy sex, the sheriff’s office said.
The Sheriff’s Office Operations Unit ran the undercover operation across the county, contacting individuals described as “attempting to purchase sex, sometimes referred to as ‘johns.'” Each of the 21 men was cited for soliciting prostitution.
Four of those cited also faced drug possession charges, according to the sheriff’s office. One man was found carrying a concealed, loaded firearm without a permit and will face additional charges.
Video released from the operation showed agents chasing suspects and handcuffing men taken into custody.
“Human trafficking is complex, and there is no single approach to addressing it,” the sheriff’s office said.
The office said local law enforcement works with community partners “from several different angles, including identifying and supporting survivors, investigating traffickers and addressing the factors that can contribute to exploitation.”
Representatives from Stand Up Placer, a local nonprofit that assists survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking, joined agents to speak with the cited men. According to the sheriff’s office, those conversations focused on “the impact their actions can have and the connection between the purchase of sex and human trafficking.”
Authorities said much of the trafficking activity they encounter in Placer County stems from solicitation through dating apps and other online platforms.
Stand Up Placer offers a confidential webchat for survivors and victims of human trafficking, sexual assault and domestic violence.
