Rohnert Park police continue sex trafficking stings

Rohnert Park police have arrested five people in a series of stings since Wednesday in an effort to raise awareness of human trafficking, the department said.

Three people were arrested last weekend on suspicion of pimping, and two others last week on suspicion of soliciting prostitution.

Rohnert Park Police Sgt. Jeff Justice said most of the meetings are arranged after officers find advertisements either on social media or websites like Craigslist or Backdoor.

Two men arrested Friday - brothers Brandon Walker, 26, of Fairfield, and Leon Walker, 40, of Richmond - were taken into custody when they accompanied an alleged sex worker to meet an undercover police officer.

The woman arranged a meeting with the officer online, and agreed to perform a sex act for a fee. At 9 p.m., when she arrived at the chosen location in the 6000 block of Redwood Drive, she told the undercover officer she was brought there by the Walkers, who were subsequently arrested.

About 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Gilbert Martinez, 41, of Sacramento, was arrested on suspicion of pimping.

Police said Martinez accompanied a woman who arranged to meet an officer following an online contact.

Neither of the women involved Friday and Saturday was arrested. Justice said they were treated as victims.

“We’re trying to not just help to locate any victims, but to bring more awareness to the problem,” said Justice.

January was named National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month by Presidential proclamation.

On Wednesday, two women were arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution.

One arrest was at a massage parlor when the masseuse offered to perform a sex act on an undercover officer for a fee. The second arrest occurred when a woman agreed to meet an officer after arranging with him online to perform a sex act in exchange for money.

After the arrests, Verity, a Sonoma County nonprofit that works with victims of violence, abuse and sexual assault, met with the women and offered support, advocacy and information on how to leave the sex trade.

You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com.