Rohnert Park police raid apartments, find suspected human trafficking victims

Rohnert Park Public Safety officers raided two alleged brothels Wednesday, finding four women who are suspected victims of human trafficking.

Undercover officers went to two apartments at a residential complex on Rohnert Park Expressway having made arrangements with the brothels through online ads, said Rohnert Park Public Safety Sgt. Jeff Justice.

The officers were greeted at each door by women wearing lingerie, Justice said. Once contact was made, other officers came to serve warrants and secure the apartments with workers for advocacy groups aiding victims of sex trafficking standing by, Justice said.

Two women were in each apartment, all were from Asian countries, were in their 40s and 50s and spoke little to no English, Justice said.

Two men came to the apartments during the raid after making appointments through a call center for the brothels, Justice said. They were interviewed by police and released, he said.

Transportation to safe houses was offered by aid workers, but not all the women accepted help, Justice said.

No arrests were made during the raid and Rohnert Park Public Safety detectives are continuing their investigation into a Bay Area-based human trafficking network that was behind the operation, Justice said.

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nrahaim.