Cops: Pimp Arrested at Local Motel for Beating Woman He Forced Into Prostitution

By Bay City News Service: 
 
An alleged pimp that police said beat a victim he had forced into prostitution after she tried to call for help was arrested at a San Mateo motel early Monday morning.
 
Police received a call from a person saying her friend had been beaten by her boyfriend at a hotel on North Bayshore Boulevard at 1 a.m.

But officers discovered that the victim had tried to call the motel's front desk for help to get away from the man, and he had overheard her, grabbed her by her hair, threw her to the ground and punched her.

He forced her out of the room and threw her property after her. She ran and asked for help, according to police.

She told police that she had met Shane Joshua Lusalah, 21, of Fresno, a couple weeks ago and he had taken her throughout California to areas she was unfamiliar with, took her cellphone and controlled her through fear.

During that time she prostituted herself 15-16 times, with Lusalah allegedly arranging many of the dates and keeping all of the money. She was given only food and a place to sleep, police said.

Investigators also found a website where Lusalah had advertised her services as a prostitute, police said.

Lusalah was arrested at the motel and booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of human trafficking, assault and felony vandalism.

Anyone with information on the arrest has been asked to contact the San Mateo Police Department Investigation Bureau at (650) 522-7650 or the secret witness hotline at (650) 522-7676.