MEMPHIS, TN - The Memphis Police Department staged an undercover prostitution sting this weekend. More than a dozen women were arrested for prostitution near a school or church. Detectives with the MPD's Organized Crime Unit conducted these undercover operations overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning.
Garland Paige says he hears about a lot of stuff going on around his neighborhood near Hollywood and Chelsea.
"This is a high crime area,” Paige said. “A lot of things go on at nighttime here, lots of shootings stuff like that."
Just blocks away from elementary schools, he says prostitution is a big problem. He's glad to hear police are cracking down.
"Makes me feel good,” Paige said. “Because I've got little grandkids out here, and they'll be out here at night playing."
Undercover officers posed as decoys in several areas around the city. According to the affidavits, these 12 women were all willing to have sex for money, and they were all within a mile and a half of a church or school.
Tyishia Ayers lives near Park and Semmes where one of the 12 was arrested.
"Around here, there's a lot of prostitution going on in the community," Ayers said. “I would like to see the police get more involved, stay around communities and keep these prostitutes from around here."
But some like John Dudley say arresting them won’t solve the problem.
"I just think the people need help now,” Dudley said. “That could really hurt a person, locking them up and letting them out of jail and they ain't got nothing. They need help around here. Nobody around here's trying to hurt nobody. Lock 'em up and put 'em back out here and they're gonna do the same thing over and over again."
Busts were also made near Winchester Elementary, Hanley elementary and other middle and high schools around the city.
The women's bonds ranged from a $100 to $250. At last check Sunday night, about half of them had been released. The women who were arrested range in age from 22 to 52.
