They have addresses from Georgia, Florida, California, Arizona and North Carolina.
Several of the men and women arrested in a monthlong prostitution crackdown in the southern Howard County Route 1 corridor were caught after traveling across the United States, but six have addresses within county limits, police said.
“These were not people who were just passing through,” said Sherry Llewellyn, Howard County police spokeswoman. “Businesses and residents in the area were consistently complaining about the activities along Route 1.”
Based on the complaints, Howard County police launched a monthlong crackdown in the area, arresting 25 people on drug or prostitution charges. Officers in the department?s Vice and Narcotics Unit went undercover in areas of Laurel, Elkridge and Jessup to catch people either offering or soliciting the services of a prostitute.
Detectives launched the operation June 7, dressing female officers in plainclothes to see if they would be approached with offers of money for sex. Male officers drove unmarked cars in plainclothes to see if they would receive similar offers, police said.
Police also used the Internet to identify suspects working as prostitutes in Howard County. Detectives spoke with the women by phone and arranged to meet. All those who offered exchanges of sex for money were arrested, police said.
During the course of the investigation, officers said they also arrested and charged suspects who were in possession of illegal drugs, such as crack cocaine and marijuana.
“It?s been a problem here for many years,” Donna Thewes, the Republican candidate for Howard County Council seat District 3, said of prostitution along Route 1. “One of the most prominent locations for it is the truck stop. It?s atransient area and it?s developed into a place where people are looking for these kind of things. The police have to keep a constant vigilance.”
County Council Member Calvin Ball, a Democrat whose District 2 includes parts of Route 1 farther north, said he?s also heard complaints of prostitution in his district.
“I have heard some citizens concerned,” he said. “I?m glad to see our police force is working to stamp out these problems.”
