A 41-year-old Santa Monica man has been arrested in an undercover sting at a Manhattan Beach public restroom where more than a dozen were reportedly having sex.
In total, there were 18 men arrested on suspicion of any of the following charges: soliciting/engaging in lewd conduct in public place; loitering in/around public toilet for the purpose of engaging/soliciting lewd/unlawful act; utilizing a peephole in a restroom/invasion of privacy; resisting arrest and indecent exposure.
It was not immediately clear what charges the Santa Monica man, Isauro Benavides, Jr., is facing.
The investigation was prompted by lifeguards who told the police department that they had seen increased foot traffic near the restroom on the beach at Marine Avenue.
The same people were returning, some of the bathroom visits were taking more than an hour, and more than one set of feet could be seen in the stalls, according to Stephanie Martin, public information officer for the Manhattan Beach Police Department
Manhattan police began their undercover operation in early March.
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It is a bit suspect, though.... they say that several people are involved but only named the hispanic one..... is this racial profiling/prejudice???
I don't think you understand the seriousness of what you're doing here. I think I'm correct in the fact that all of these charges are misdemeanors. Also, they are all what is referred to as 'victimless crimes'. More importantly, unless the Patch intends to start publishing the names and of the Santa Monica residents who are regularly arrested for solicitation on Lincoln Blvd, this is definitely motivated by the assumption that the men in question are gay and is most certainly prejudicial and biased. What I think you completely fail to take into account is that the majority of these men are probably deeply closeted and most likely married and even have children. This kind of reporting certainly went out of fashion in the 1960's and you would do yourself well to take a moment to see how gays were treated before the Stonewall riots and how the gay civil rights movement started. This story has no business on this community news page unless you're simply serving as a tool for the Mahattan Beach Police Department.
I agree with most of what Mr. Mack posted above. Your article is reckless, gaybash-baiting copy. Not too impressive. Mike Gutierrez
We want everything to be free!!!!
This is beyond hackery, Jenna. Unilluminating and pointless.