Dozens of Oakland residents could be any number of places on a Friday night, but for the last four years they've gone to the Fruitvale District of East Oakland. Here, even the smallest volunteers deliver a big invitation.
The women of Victory Outreach Church march past sunset looking for that one girl who will consider stepping out of the life. One of the first girls ABC7 met agreed to talk. She told ABC7 she was 17 when she began working as a prostitute.
She is now She says when she was underage a San Francisco police officer paid her for sex. She says he initially told her he was in the Army. Abuslin is a self-identified sex worker who says she had sex with more than 30 police officers from seven law enforcement agencies, some while she was underage. Several are now facing criminal charges and administrative action.
The next girl ABC7 met says she began at just 13 years old. She says while she was still underage an Oakland police officer threatened to arrest her if she didn't do him a favor. She says she ultimately denied him and he left her alone. There were six total," said Keller. Recently, another Oakland police officer, Ryan Walterhouse, pleaded not guilty to prostitution and obstruction of justice charges. According to the complaint, Walterhouse asked a known prostitute via text how she was going to repay him for the information he gave her.
The Oakland Police Department says the alleged conduct occurred both off and on duty. On the Friday night, ABC7 News was on International Boulevard where at least two girls said they'll consider attending a Halloween party at the church. Cellphone numbers were exchanged, which was a significant victory for the women of Victory Outreach Church. Click here for full coverage on the Bay Area police sex scandal. Breaking Kings County kids found safe, father in custody, officials say.
