HOUSTON – A recent sting operation involving deputies with Harris County Precinct 4 led to dozens of arrests for prostitution.
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Constable Mark Herman discussed the sting operation in a news conference Friday morning, where he said a total of 20 men were arrested
In a news release, the constable said a 3-day operation was conducted due to an increase in prostitution throughout Harris County communities.
As a result, various constable agencies launched an initiative involving undercover and uniformed officers and spent weeks in various massage parlors and other businesses where sex and sexual acts were allegedly being solicited.
Constable Herman began his conference by noting that various agencies would start working across precinct lines, effective immediately, to assist one another in addressing and combatting the growing need.
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The collaboration also hopes to extend to the Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“We’ve gotta start thinking outside the box; the criminals out there don’t understand precinct lines,” he said. “[Pct. 1] Constable [Alan] Rosen’s criminals are my criminals, [Pct. 8] Constable [Phil] Sandlin’s criminals, etc.”
For the sting operation launched by Constable Herman’s office, discussed Friday, he said women officers worked undercover, posing as prostitutes in areas where they’ve previously received dozens of complaints and several men were arrested as a result.
“We basically went after the supply and the demand side of prostitution,” he said. “We know that prostitution brings other charges to our areas.”
The arrest of these 20 individuals, Constable Herman also noted, went beyond felony prostitution charges as some of the men taken into custody had outstanding warrants, were caught with drugs, or trying to flee the scene.
KPRC 2 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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