City sting targets johns

Published 11:13 pm Friday, September 28, 2007

EVERETT —

The “john” sting was part of an ongoing effort by Everett police to address an increased number of complaints about prostitution in south Everett.

Female police officers posed as prostitutes in north and south Everett during the three-hour sting. Undercover and uniformed officers waited nearby, ready to move in once the decoys were offered money for sex. Lynnwood police and an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement also helped bust those seeking sex.

Men soon were showing interest in the women and drove by once, twice and even three times.

“It’s like a fishing hole. They circle around, build up their confidence and check out the area,” said Everett police Lt. Dan Templeman.

The sting operations were conducted along Evergreen Way in south Everett and Broadway in north Everett. Both areas have long attracted prostitutes and their patrons. Police say there hasn’t necessarily been an increase in prostitution in the area, but they did receive more complaints this summer.

On Thursday it took only three minutes for a man to stop and offer to pay for sex with the undercover female officer. At least two other vehicles parked along the curb. The drivers had circled the block and kept their eyes on the woman, possibly waiting to make an offer.

Once the potential customers made their offers, police swooped in. The men were ordered out of their vehicles and handcuffed. Officers searched their vehicles, photographed them and handed them a ticket.

Some denied making an offer to the decoy. Others admitted they stopped to buy sex. One wore a wedding band and had a drug pipe in his vehicle. One man began to weep as he was hauled off to jail.

Police found marijuana in one of the men’s vehicles. Some of the men were taken to jail because their immigration status was in question. The youngest was 19 and the oldest was 41.

Some of the men likely make a habit of cruising the streets looking for prostitutes while others act on a whim, Templeman said.

Police believe prostitution is influenced by supply and demand. If they’re able to deter the customers, fewer prostitutes will be on the streets.

“If we’re arresting the johns, we think there will be fewer girls out here,” Templeman said.

Everett City Councilman Ron Gipson recently proposed that the city post the pictures of the people convicted of soliciting a prostitute on Everett’s cable station and Web site. He said he believes humiliation is just punishment for people who exploit young women.

The police department has just begun to look at the proposal, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.

Police also have targeted the prostitutes in recent weeks. Seven women were arrested in August after they agreed to sell sex to an undercover police officer.

Prostitution is not only dangerous for the women, but also for their customers. Men have been robbed, beaten and exposed to sexually transmitted diseases, according to police.

“We want men to understand if they come looking for a prostitute in Everett, it may be a police officer,” Templeman said. “This is not just going to be a one-time effort. We could be out today. We could be out tomorrow.”

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.