DeKalb Prostitution Sting Nets Arrests

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Friday night was a busy one for the DeKalb County Police Department vice squad. Undercover officers took a two-pronged approach, targeting both suspected johns and prostitutes.

Officers made arrest after arrest in a sting that targeted the world's oldest profession.Friday night was a busy none for the DeKalb County Police Department vice squad. Undercover officers took a two-pronged approach, targeting both suspected johns and prostitutes.

A couple of arrests occurred two blocks away from the police department's south precinct. Vice officers said after constant problems, community members and police on patrol asked them to set up the undercover sting.

"They had these complaints of prostitution, street level drugs and then the johns that bring that kind of trouble into their neighborhoods," said one undercover officer.

Police placed several undercover officers posing as prostitutes in high traffic areas like Interstate 285 and Glenwood. After just a few minutes, another suspected john was arrested.

Vice officers said the sting used two fold approach arrested both alleged johns and alleged prostitutes.

Police said many of the alleged prostitutes have been arrested multiple times, but for many johns it was a first time thing. Officers said they hope court ordered testing for sexually transmitted diseases, their picture in the local paper and a phone call to the spouse will change their ways.

"We try to do that so we can prevent this kind of behavior we don't want this in the community, the community doesn't want it, so this is one way we found that works," said the undercover officer.

The head of vice said the female officers posing as prostitutes were safe because at all times several officers in nearby cars were there to keep a close eye on them.