Prostitution sting yields 4 arrests in Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township
Four women were arrested during a prostitution sting Tuesday along East Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township, police said.
It marks the fourth prostitution bust in the area in eight weeks.
Ypsilanti police officers and Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies teamed up for the operation that ran from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., an Ypsilanti police news release said.
The women were arrested for solicitation for prostitution and taken to the Washtenaw County Jail. Charges are pending.
The sting was part of a program called Enforcement Against Street Walking in Ypsilanti (E.A.S.Y.).
The effort brings law enforcement, human services, the judicial system and elected officials together to address the root causes of prostitution and keep people off the streets. So far, the program has worked with 12 women, the release said.
Other prostitution busts in the area occurred June 22, June 9 and May 4, resulting in the arrests of 15 men for solicitation of prostitution and 6 women for solicitation for prostitution.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Milton Shift
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 4:30 a.m.
Why arrest prostitutes and put them in jail? So guards can rape them? How is this in any way good for them?!
Grand Marquis de Sade
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 6:33 p.m.
Seriously?
Scot Mathison
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.
Good Job Ypsi. Get this out of our city. Make them go somewhere else for it. We don't welcome this behavior in Ypsi and never should.
katie
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 8:43 p.m.
Arresting the pimps and the customers would be more effective. It's ok to arrest the women, but if you arrest the pimps and the johns as a priority, you will go to the root causes of the problem. If you just arrest the women, it is a bandaid solution, not getting at the root causes. If you want to publish photos, publish the photos of the customers and the pimps. Ok if you want to include the prostitutes, too. Publishing the photos of the customers is shown to be most effective.
Wolf's Bane
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 11:56 a.m.
I agree, publishing the photos of the customers is a great deterent.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 11:51 p.m.
Publishing the photos of the ladies may have some unintended consequences.: 1. The Johns know who is "safe" to approach 2. It may be a bit of a shopping list.
Martin Church
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 4:50 p.m.
thanks to the Ypsilanti officers and the sheriffs for helping to clean our neighborhood. As someone who lives in the area, I am tired of my wife and daughter being assaulted by these services. To those who oppose this operation, I would ask you to move into the area a few years ago when we had several drug houses in operation a several shootings. These women and men engaging in the oldest profession are are often acting as scouts for the drug lords. We want our neighborhood back. To the annarbor.com can you also please include how many of these are repeat offenders. To our city council, it is time to look at our ordenance and see if we can make it tougher.
wlinsenbigler
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.
Targeting the prostitutes is silly and a waste of time. Thats like busting crackheads, it will not stop the crack dealer. Anyone who lives in that area can watch the gas staion at Michigan Ave and Prospect, or just in that area, and easily determine who the pimp is.
Ricebrnr
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 4:07 p.m.
Wait are you sure about that? President Calderone sure seemed to think otherwise... and our legislators were happy to hear him out apparently...
KeepingItReal
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 2:31 p.m.
My advice to walkers, joggers and others who may be out for a stroll. Don't walk the streets in Ypsilanti. If the sting program does ans its acronym states, anyone walking the streets in Ypsilanti (at least women) can be busted for prostitution. One of the basic concepts of economics is demand and supply. If one doesn't exist the other cannot happen.
Cat
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 6:18 p.m.
Exactly tdw, a couple years back, I took a stroll to Value World to pass the time while waiting for my car to be serviced at Discount Tire... that was a mistake. Two 'nice' gentleman pulled over to offer me a ride and plenty more honked. I'm certain that I was dressed conservatively and it was mid-afternoon. I vote for cleaning it up! I'd like to be able to visit those businesses without being solicited.
tdw
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 5:13 p.m.
KeepingITReal apparently you have no idea where that area is or what its like.You don't have joggers,walkers or strollers there
Wolf's Bane
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 2:21 p.m.
Prostitution creates many victims and needs to be curtailed in residential areas. I salute the Ypsi PD for being vigilant and forcing the issue to migrate to Detroit.
Grand Marquis de Sade
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 1:28 p.m.
Snoopdog... while I appreciate your libertarian impulses I can assure you that these stings are by no means a waste of taxpayer money to the taxpayers, like me, who live in the immediate area. As I stated before these drug-addicted zombies and their equally disgusting "customers" are a huge detriment to our neighborhood and I appreciate the efforts of the YPD and Washtenaw County Sheriff's Dept. to eradicate this scourge. Regardless of your (or my) opinions on whether or not prostitution should be legal this disgusting trade should not be practiced in a residential neighborhood. When YOUR sunny afternoon peace is shattered by a hooker and her pimp fighting violently in the street in front of YOUR house or when the vacant house 3 doors down from YOU becomes a drug den due to the close proximity of customers (the hookers) I'd be happy to consider your opinion on this matter. Until then, unless you've experienced what I'm talking about firsthand, keep it to yourself because you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
Steve McKeen
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 4:15 p.m.
In the state of Michigan there aren't taxes on services. If prostitution were legalized and made into storefronts, tax revenue wouldn't be created like you so miserably claim.
grye
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.
If it is legalized at a place of business as is done in Nevada, you wouldn't have the junkies and pimps hanging around your house. How about a store front near the Deja Vu? Just think of the tax revenue that could be generated.
pvitaly
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.
Maybe, just maybe, they keep arresting the prostitutes in hope of getting to their pimps? I would guess the pimps are involved in crimes other than prostitution.
Bob Krzewinski
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 1:18 p.m.
As far as prostitution stings being "a waste of time", if you had hookers parading in front of your home, it would probably become a huge priority for police action. And to even cut down on this activity more, publish the photos of those arrested.
unrulyfan
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 11:52 p.m.
Great idea Bob, that way next time you go to Ypsi you can tell the real hookers from the cops.
xmo
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.
Why are the Police targeting women only in the sting program called E.A.S.Y.? I am sure that there are plenty of other types that are prostitutes that could be picked up also? This program sounds like it takes on the EASY targets- women and the poor. Soon the band of prostitutes will move to another corner and set up shop without really solving the problem. What a waste of Police money!
grye
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 8:51 p.m.
Mike: If you have sex with someone without exchanging money, it is ok. If you give them money, it is a crime. Interesting concept.
Mike
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 1:22 p.m.
How do you solve the problem? How would you do it? You could take the same attitude with any crime or immoral behavior I suppose depending upon yopur own personal feelings about what is right or wrong
snoopdog
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 12:56 p.m.
At least this time they went after the prostitutes, last time they used entrapment to lure in the johns. Quit wasting taxpayer money and go after real criminals like thieves,robbers and those that steal other identities. But that won't happen, these stings bring in big big bucks for lawyers, judges,clerks,bailiffs and validates the need for an oversize bloated bureaucracy. Lgealize prostitution now and get it off the street corner. Good Day
tdw
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
Only 4 ?
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 12:49 p.m.
"The effort brings law enforcement, human services, the judicial system and elected officials together to address the root causes of prostitution" If arresting them addresses the "root causes", then I guess they are on the right track.
WalkingJoe
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 11:59 a.m.
I know prostitution is a crime and I don't condone it but I think the money spent on these stings could be better spent enforcing other laws. Like watching certain intersections for blatant red light runners or beefed up patrols in areas that have experienced more break ins just for a couple of examples.
Scot Mathison
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.
Good job Ypsi. Get this junk out of our city. The money is well spent.
breadman
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 11:24 a.m.
These ladies are only trying to make a aliving!!! No tax break for the state?