Father Calls Oakland Police On Teen Prostitute Daughter

On Thursday, KTVU talked to a Bay Area father crusading to stop teenage prostitution who knows about the problem firsthand. 24 hours earlier, he saw his own daughter working the streets of Oakland, called police and had her arrested.

When speaking to Amber Lee Thursday, Don Cooper spoke of wanting to start a support group for parents in situations similar to his. KTVU first meet Don Cooper Wednesday night after he spotted his 15-years-old daughter and other teen prostitutes working a street corner.

"I'd seen my daughter right there on the corner," said Cooper. "It hurted so bad. I had to do something. There was no way I was going to allow her to keep being out there like that."

The 41-year-old Cooper lives in Contra Costa County. But he was in Oakland Wednesday evening on a search for his daughter Donisha. While driving near the intersection of International and 14th Avenue, he saw her trying to solicit johns.

Cooper called the police and officers arrested Donisha and a man suspected of running the prostitution ring.

Cooper told KTVU Donisha ran away from home when she was 12 1/2 years old. He says he's tried to convince her to come home, but she refuses and denies any involvement in prostitution.

"I knew she was here because I've caught her several times out here," said Cooper. "It drew tears to my eyes to see her out here like that, 'cause she don't have to be out here. We didn't raise her to be out here like that."

Cooper says he refuses to give up. Each time he's caught Donisha soliciting, he calls the police.

"The young girls, the babies ... we can't allow this," said Cooper. "It has to stop. It has to stop."

Cooper says his 21-year-old daughter Briana also worked as a prostitute as a teenager. But he says after a particularly bad experience, Briana revaluated her life and eventually turned it around.

Cooper is also raising a five-year-old daughter he's trying to protect.

"I had two girls out there. I'm trying to make sure she doesn't go that route at all," said Cooper.

Cooper is urging people to get involved when they see child and teen prostitutes. He suggests talking to them or calling police.

"It's not just my daughter. It's other people's daughters too," said Cooper. "If we don't do it, we're just allowing them to live out here. They're kidnapping these kids and using them for different things. It's just time to stop."

15-year-old Donisha is due in court Friday. Cooper plans to be there for his daughter. In the past, Cooper says Donisha has been sent to programs to keep her off the streets, but that she keeps running away.

Cooper says this time he hopes to take her away from Oakland for good.