Eight Arrested in Prostitution Sting | Video

Amy Fox | 2/25/2013

"We`ve been receiving reports of prostitution taking place kind of all across the city,” said Sergeant David Goodman, Minot Police Department Investigations Division. “There is not really a specific hotel to see where it seems to be a problem, but it seems to be a problem generally across the city."

With a growing number of reports, the Minot Police Department conducted an undercover prostitution sting at Minot hotel Friday.

"We conducted an operation concentrating on the individuals that are going out to solicit prostitution, so we kind of set up our operation that way. We also worked it from the angle of going after people that are advertising their escort services across the city."

As a result of the sting, eight people were arrested.

"Well, I can tell you every one of them, whether it’s the males or the females, claimed that this was their first attempt at everything, but some of them seemed to be a little more seasoned than others,” said Goodman.

With Minot`s population boom, prostitution is becoming a big problem in the city. But, as Goodman explains, Minot PD is keeping a watchful eye out for operations in the area.

"We`re definitely going to do more of this type of work and it`s not one particular group that we got, it`s just individuals that are out working."

As Minot`s population continues to grow, Goodman expects to see the number of prostitution cases increase as well.

"We`re trying to figure the best way to be able to continue to work these types of investigations, so we can do the right thing for the community of Minot."

All of individuals involved were taken to the Ward County jail and seven were released. Solicitation of prostitution is Class B misdemeanor.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO MINOT STORIES