Prostitution sting brings 9 arrests in North Toledo

8/15/2002

Nine people were arrested and several vehicles impounded Tuesday afternoon during a Toledo police reverse prostitution sting operation in the north end.

Sgt. Carol Connelly said yesterday that neighbors in the Superior-Chestnut streets area long have complained about a prostitution problem.

She said vice unit officers conducted the sting at the intersection from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., using an undercover female officer to target men soliciting prostitutes.

“I know this won't solve the problem, but we think this will be a deterrent,” the sergeant said.

Five men were arrested and charged with soliciting from a motor vehicle.

The sergeant said the men whose vehicles were impounded will have to pay $300 to get them released. Only one of the vehicles was released as of late yesterday, she said.

Sergeant Connelly said two men were arrested for obstructing official business after officers saw them warning motorists about the sting operation.

Sergeant Connelly said one woman was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant, and another woman was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sergeant Connelly said those arrested were taken to the Lucas County Jail, given court dates, and released, except for one of the men who was being sought on an unrelated felony warrant from Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

“We do these whenever we feel it is needed,” Capt. Wes Bombrys, head of the department's special enforcement unit, said. “If Sergeant Connelly told me we need to be back out there tomorrow, we'll be there.”