Public safety watch: Nine men arrested on suspicion of soliciting for sex in North Highlands

An undercover prostitution sting in North Highlands resulted in the arrests of nine men suspected of soliciting for sex, including two who were charged with an extra count of conspiracy because of a language barrier, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department reports show.

The operation was held between 5:27 p.m. and 10:11 p.m. June 26 on Watt Avenue near Madison Avenue, the reports said.

In each of the arrests, the suspects approached undercover officers, engaged in conversations with them, negotiated and agreed to pay money in exchange for sex, the reports said.

Arrested on suspicion of soliciting sex were Kevin Kelly, 51, Elias Velazquez, 27, Armando Lopez, 36, Jeffrey Hasegawa, 31, Stanley Bogovich, 45, Jose Flores-Santana, 19, Ryan Sweely, 26, and Sou Saephan, 27, the reports said.

Daniel Garcia, 21, and Jose Vargas, 34, also were arrested on suspicion of soliciting for sex as well as conspiracy, it was reported.

Garcia translated for Vargas and helped negotiate the sex deal. Garcia held Vargas' wallet and phone while Vargas was in the motel room with the undercover officers, the report said.

2 force way into man's home, deputy says

A 55-year-old man was robbed and his home near Edison Avenue was ransacked by two suspects, according to a deputy's report.

At 7 a.m. June 24, the suspects broke into a house on the 3800 block of Annadale Lane near Edison Avenue, the report said.

After the suspects forced their way into the house, one of them held the victim down and pressed a hard object to his side, the report said.

As the other suspect ransacked the house, the first victim demanded money from the victim's pockets. Fearing for his safety, the victim reached into his pockets and pulled out some money, the report said.

The suspects fled before deputies arrived. The victim received a minor abrasion but did not require medical attention, the report said.

Man says stranger punched him in face

A 29-year-old man lost two teeth after he was punched in the face by one of two strangers walking near Fulton Avenue, a deputy reported.

The victim was walking on Wittkop Way from Wayland Drive near Fulton Avenue at midnight June 13, when he was confronted by two strangers walking in the opposite direction, the report said.

One of the suspects asked the victim for a light for a cigarette, and as the victim reached into his pocket for a match, one of the victims punched him in the mouth, the report said.

The victim fell to the ground and was unconscious for a short period of time. When he awoke the suspects were gone.

The victim took himself to the hospital where lacerations were sutured in his lower and upper lip. The victim, who lost two teeth from the assault, reported the suspects did not take any of his property, the report said.

Man reports being mugged by 3 teens

Three youths slugged a 40-year-old man before making off with his cash in the Arden Arcade area, a deputy reported.

At 11:45 a.m. June 27, the man was approached by the juveniles on Clinton Road between Hurley Way and Arden Way, the report said.

The juveniles, who were not known by the victim, were between 12 and 16 years of age, the report said.

The suspects demanded money from the victim. When he refused, they hit him about the head and face, causing a laceration to his temple, the report said.

The juveniles took cash from his pockets and then ran off, the report said.

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