People v. Williams CA2/6

Facts and Procedural Background2 In February 2024, Los Angeles Police Department Officers Felipe Mata and Julia Varela were working in the Vice Unit. They were responsible for monitoring the Figueroa corridor, an area notorious for pimping, prostitution, and human trafficking. At approximately 12:25 a.m., Officer Mata was driving down Figueroa Street in an undercover vehicle when he observed a series of vehicles parked in the middle of a two-way street, blocking traffic in violation of Vehicle Code section 22500. The area was “congested” with numerous women “dressed in provocative clothing.” Officer Mata believed the women to be commercial sex workers. Officer Mata saw appellant exit his vehicle from the driver’s side. He was the sole occupant. Appellant, along with several other men, “aggressively” approached the women, “circling” them. Officer Mata believed the men were trying to commit a robbery or pander the women. Based on his observations and based on the vehicle code violation, he called for marked patrol vehicles to initiate a stop.3 Officer Varela, who was in uniform and driving a marked patrol vehicle, responded to the call. Upon arrival, she observed a group of men…