Police: Guys, Don't Have Sex In Parks
More than 90 males were arrested in 2009
Friday, Mar 12, 2010 | Updated 2:15 PM PST
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An increase in males having sex in public parks in northeast Los Angeles has resulted in more of them being arrested on suspicion of performing lewd acts, Los Angeles police vice officers said Friday.
More than 90 males were arrested in 2009 -- up from 75 in 2008 -- on suspicion of lewd conduct in the Northeast area, including Elysian Park, Griffith Park and Sycamore Grove Park, and police want to curtail the trend.
"We took two stations out on an undercover operation," LAPD Vice Sgt. Lisa Phillips said at a news conference Friday. "The whole purpose, intention and goal of this operation is to get the word out to the community at large that this is a serious problem."
During the news conference, police showed video of arrests made by undercover officers. The video also showed park areas littered with used condoms. "Many participants have been arrested frequently for the same activity and claim to be married and heterosexual," according to a police statement.
Police warned that some of the males have been assaulted and robbed by gang members during their sexual encounters.
Other park users are complaining about the public sexual encounters, police said.
"Numerous complaints from people utilizing the parks for jogging, picnics, bicycling and similar activities are also a contributing factor," the statement said.
Police also expressed concern that some of those arrested had engaged in unsafe sex, which increases the risk of spreading sexually transmitted diseases.
