Crime

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office conducted operation to stem prostitution on Watt Avenue

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office conducted Friday night an operation in North Highlands aiming to stem prostitution.

Deputies posed as sex workers on Watt Avenue in North Highlands during which johns approached them for sex.

In total, deputies arrested 53 people and rescued a woman from sex work, said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office invited members of the media to observe the sting.

Investigators also seized one firearm. They also detained a father who negotiated a sex act with his baby in the backseat, and gave the baby to the mother, Gandhi said.

Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper speaks to deputies at a briefing before an operation to address prostitution on Watt Avenue in Sacramento County on Friday. The media was asked not to photograph undercover female deputies.
Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper speaks to deputies at a briefing before an operation to address prostitution on Watt Avenue in Sacramento County on Friday. The media was asked not to photograph undercover female deputies. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Eilers begins the booking process after arresting a man who propositioned a female deputy posing as a prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday.
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Eilers begins the booking process after arresting a man who propositioned a female deputy posing as a prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Lopez recites the Miranda warnings to a man as being arrested for propositioning a female deputy posing as prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday.
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Lopez recites the Miranda warnings to a man as being arrested for propositioning a female deputy posing as prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Eilers searches for prior convictions after arresting a man who propositioned a female deputy posing as prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday.
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Eilers searches for prior convictions after arresting a man who propositioned a female deputy posing as prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
A Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy escorts a man who was arrested for propositioning a deputy posing as prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday. Deputies made 53 arrests during the operation.
A Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy escorts a man who was arrested for propositioning a deputy posing as prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday. Deputies made 53 arrests during the operation. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Hampton, center, drives an impounded vehicle owned by a man arrested for propositioning a female deputy posing as a prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday.
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Hampton, center, drives an impounded vehicle owned by a man arrested for propositioning a female deputy posing as a prostitute on Watt Avenue in North Highlands on Friday. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Eilers escorts a man arrested for propositioning a female deputy posing as prostitute on Watt Avenue in Sacramento on Friday.
Sacramento Sheriff’s deputy Eilers escorts a man arrested for propositioning a female deputy posing as prostitute on Watt Avenue in Sacramento on Friday. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com

This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 7:00 AM.

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Ishani Desai
The Sacramento Bee
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Ishani Desai is a government watchdog reporter for The Sacramento Bee. She previously covered crime and courts for The Bakersfield Californian.
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