Because of two major sting operations, Howard County police are likely to more than triple their number of prostitution-related arrests this year, data obtained by The Examiner shows.
Howard police have arrested 52 people on charges of prostitution or solicitation of a prostitute so far this year, compared to 18 in all of 2005.
“We want to send a message to those who are engaging in prostitution in our communities,” said Police Chief William McMahon. “Our undercover officers are out there, and we?re not going away.”
Called Operation Red Light I and II, the monthlong sting operations resulted in 53 arrests, 45 of which were for prostitution.
During the operations, the county?s Vice and Narcotics Division used undercover officers to identify suspects working as prostitutes, soliciting prostitutes or in possession of drugs in the areas of north Laurel, Jessup and Elkridge.
Many of the arrests came along the county?s portion of Route 1, a popular trucking route, police said.
Twelve of the people arrested in the stings have addresses located outside of Maryland.
Detectives launched the first operation June 7 after receiving numerous complaints from residents and businesses about prostitution and drug use in specific areas of the county. That effort resulted in25 arrests ? most for prostitution, but some on other charges. Police launched a second operation Aug. 1. During both operations, undercover officers posed as prostitutes or as potential customers for prostitutes.
“In June, when we launched the first operation, it was because of citizen concerns,” said police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn. “Once we recognized we were receiving calls from the community, we devoted resources and effort to the problem.”
Female officers in plainclothes stood in areas targeted by citizen complaints to determine whether they would be approached and offered money for sex. Suspects who approached the female officers and made such offers were arrested for solicitation of prostitution.
Male officers in plainclothes also drove in unmarked cars to areas targeted by citizen complaints to determine whether they would be approached by suspects offering sex for money. Suspects who approached the male officers and made such offers were arrested for prostitution, police said.
The arrests come on the heels of Howard County?s highest profile prostitution arrest this year ? that of former UMBC assistant professor Brandy Britton, who is accused of offering sex for money in her Ellicott City cul-de-sac.
