Ann Arbor police: John calls cops after prostitute takes his money and raises her price
What would you do if you agreed on a price for a prostitute's services, only for her to take your money and raise her price?
When that happened to a 45-year-old Ann Arbor man Wednesday night, he decided to call police and report the woman for robbery.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Bush said the man and the woman had agreed on a price for her services. But when the man gave her the cash, the woman reportedly took the money and informed him that the price had suddenly gone up.
Aggrieved, the man took the next step of calling police.
“So, she was arrested,” Bush said, shaking her head.
The stories the man and the woman told police regarding the night’s events were vastly different, Bush said. The man was not arrested, and it'll be up to Washtenaw County prosecutors to determine charges in the case.
The incident still is under investigation, Bush said. Police did not release information regarding the price of the prostitute's services or the website that the man contacted her from.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
rayjay
Fri, Jan 4, 2013 : 5:13 p.m.
We become a right to work state and already consumers are having to look out of state for essential services!
MARK
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 9:45 p.m.
I would like to compliment all the commentators. This was the most civil set of postings yet to appear in AA.com
Attempted Voice of Reason
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 6:47 a.m.
Well I'm a bit of a libertarian who believes that purchased sexual services should not be illegal, as long as no coercion or maltreatment is involved. Essentially, that what's legal in Las Vegas (and Ontario) should be legal everywhere. And no, I have not and will not ever partake of a prostitute's services. I find it to be against my morals and my beliefs, but I don't feel that those who believe differently should be criminals. I don't want to see streetwalkers, but as far as I'm concerned discreet prostitutes with internet listings don't hurt anyone. That said, I do think that taking money for a service than asking for more before performing it is really nasty, shady business practices - even for a prostitute. I applaud the Ann Arbor Police for taking her on for fraud and theft, and hope that she will be held acccountable for her actions.
kt rix
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
Actually, prostitution is not legal in Las Vegas. The State of Nevada is cool with it, as long as it is outside the city limits of Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City. I agree with you on everything else in your comment, but since everyone here is being so picky about what everyone else says, I wanted to throw in my two cents : )
lumberg48108
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 7:02 p.m.
its a tittlilating story - great for clicks for ann arbor.com but arresting either is a waste of time and money -- who cares? he should have his name released and be publicly mocked for stupidity -- not arrested
shrewdrealist
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 6 p.m.
This is a good one.
Chase Ingersoll
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
Congrats Kyle. Is this your first article to make the Drudge Report?
johnnya2
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
1. I do not believe prostitution should be illegal THIS is one major reason why. It protects both parties. 2. The man has admitted to a crime, but only the woman is arrested? WRONG ANSWER. 3. This man is obviously stupid. What could possibly go wrong with having a prostitute AT YOUR HOUSE and having her arrested? I am guessing she may have a "business manager" or some friends who may not see the justice system as the only way to take out their revenge.
Kyle Feldscher
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.
I posted this in reply to another commenter, reposting it here. On why the man wasn't arrested: The answer isn't immediately clear. From what it sounds like, there's a lot of confusion about the exact legal standard that the man would have had to cross in order to be arrested at the scene. Lt. Bush emphasized to me that he very well could face charges and be arrested after the case is turned over to prosecutors. In addition, the woman was arrested on suspicion of robbery - the call the man made to police reporting the incident showed he reported she had robbed him. She was not arrested for alleged prostitution.
Mick52
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 7:04 p.m.
Ah, the plot thickens. However, if the "victim" did solicit the "suspect" for prostitution he did break the law. He said he contacted her online. That is a clue. The responding police officers should have interviewed them separately and asked why she is there. She will probably lie but it sure would be interested to hear her response. MCL 750.449a is pretty clear on his crime. All it would take is the truth on why she is there.
walker101
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.
He happened to be the author for Dummies for Sex.
Bear
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 4:10 a.m.
And another thing, for you confused folks out there in la-la land, He called the police to report a ROBBERY! Could it be she was arrested for ROBBERY? Nowhere in the article did it say she was arrested for prostitution. Pay attention people. It might not have been a crime of prostitution simply because there wasn't enough evidence to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. Perhaps he needed to be caught in the act of solicitation to be prosecuted. We could conjecture on the subject til the cows come home, but it is all merely conjecture. I'd say the simplest answer is usually the correct one. Let's see what kind of half-reporting story comes as a followup on this one.
Mick52
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 7:08 p.m.
That is not going to look good on her ratings on her website. If he did contact her online as he stated per the article there is evidence on his computer and with his internet provider. It takes time to get those records.
fishjamaica
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 3:26 a.m.
Legalize It.
beeswing
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 3:02 a.m.
We have to bring in the artistic talent from Germany and now to Ohio for sexual services? Jeez, what happened to the "buy local" movement? Where is our hometown pride?
GreektownDave
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 3:26 a.m.
I understand your comment is primarily facetious, but just for clarification: Given that the local economy in many areas of Ohio is much more depressed than it is in the Ann Arbor area, a number of girls from there advertise on the local escort boards and travel here on a weekly basis, so a guy won't necessarily know that the girl is from Ohio, or Indiana, or elsewhere, unless he does a little research or detective work. The fact the girl in this case is from Ohio likely didn't come to light until the cops checked her I.D.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 2:59 a.m.
Pictures or it didn't happen.
Mick52
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 2:47 a.m.
There are many women in this business who make significant amounts of money they otherwise may not be able to make so it is understandable why some women might do this. Here, I am wondering who is telling the truth over the price. Why would she travel from Ohio for a low fee? The story says there are two sides of the story but only one is reported here. Isn't the cash exchange done before services are rendered? Makes me wonder why she stayed. She could have left with the lower amount for her time and travel expenses. Prostitution is an extremely dangerous business to be involved in. There is a serial killer in New York, maybe two whose victims are this type of prostitute. The nature of the business makes it difficult to identify suspects. And the health risks are immense too. Here is a NYT article on the Long Island murders. There is also a documentary that has been on television. It is quite a chilling situation: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/l/long_island_serial_killer/index.html
Mick52
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 7:12 p.m.
It is a lot more dangerous Dave. Prostitutes are not likely to report assaults since their occupation will get them in trouble. Also, with online prostitution there are no witnesses like their can be in a bar pickup. The article I posted is about women who used internet ads to get their customers.
GreektownDave
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 4:04 a.m.
While the lure of "easy money" is often what draws women into the business of "escorting", without exception the ones who make "significant amounts of money" in the long-run are those who are sincere about offering honest services without attempting to "upsell" or scam their customers. It's more often the fly-by-night type girls, or those with pimps who attempt to run some sort of game on their customers. Many girls attempt to use "bait and switch" or "upselling" tactics, assuming that the lure of the lower price will get them in the door and after that the guy's desire or desperation will allow him to pay more than what was initially advertised. It's the same tactic that unscrupulous practitioners in other businesses often try. The point at which the money changes hands varies, but it is interesting that she was still there when the cops arrived. Perhaps she didn't believe a customer would have the nerve to actually call them and thought it was all a bluff on his part. As for prostitution being dangerous, in many respects it's no different than when a girl chooses to go home with a stranger she just met at a club, or allows into her home for the night. Ann Arbor and other cities are full of college kids who engage in that type risky behavior on a daily basis.
jns131
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 2:12 a.m.
All I can say is this. About time the johns and janes have moved to Ann Arbor. Looks like we here in Ypsi have finally cleaned up our act.
Cameron McLain
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
Yeah. Ypsi... Cleaned up your act. No.
Mick52
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 2:49 a.m.
Maybe they just haven't done a sting lately like the one in Feb: http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/deputies-arrest-woman-suspected-of-prostitution-in-ypsilanti-township/#.UEAl9iKLvCY
Wolf's Bane
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 12:56 a.m.
Regulation of the oldest profession would have solved the issue.
Gorc
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 12:39 a.m.
Maybe John should have gone on Angie's List and did sme research on her.
Dog Guy
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 12:01 a.m.
A 45-year-old man with with a 19-year-old woman is either completely deaf or a total fool.
Kk Ichikawa
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 11:10 p.m.
Prostitution is more of a rental agreement isn't it?? What else can you sell and still keep?
mbill
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.
I get so tired of checking the price on the shelf only to get to the register to find the price is higher, Surely her BBB rating should be demoted. She must have thought she had sized him up and thought she'd get away with it. Surely worthy of a promotion.
GreektownDave
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
FYI: There is in fact a "BBB" for members of her profession, in the form of the Naughty Reviews website, where members can post reviews of their encounters with individual "service providers" such as escorts, massage parlors and strip clubs. The goal being to help others from encountering scammers like the girl in this article and instead only deal with trustworthy providers.
eagleman
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 9:53 p.m.
Another thing to consider is whether the man brought her to his house or whether she traveled here herself. If he transported her he would be in violation of the Mann Act(White-Slave Traffic Act) which prohibits transporting persons over state lines for the purpose of prostitution or illegal sexual acts. If so, Mr. John''s problems have increased from solicitation of a prostitution to a federal crime. Oops!
WalkingJoe
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 10:39 p.m.
eagleman, you bring up a good point. I too wondered about that and also if that law has been amended since the onset of the internet.
GreektownDave
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.
It's noteworthy that the "journalist" who authored this article repeatedly infers that "prostitution" was involved, yet provides no facts in the article to support that assertion. He only makes an assumption that prostitution was involved; the very type assumption for which he and his Ann Arbor.com-associates routinely delete reader's comments. As every adult here should know by now, advertising as, or hiring the services of an "escort" is a legal practice in most States, as the Tiger Woods-drama of a couple years back should have made clear to the general public. Since it's likely it was that type "arrangement" which this case involved, a responsible journalist should have made note of that fact in this article. "Backpage", "The Erotic Review" and "Naughty Reviews" are all well-known websites which feature the ads for local "escorts", hundreds of whom are from the Ann Arbor area. So for a "journalist" to ignore that fact in the reporting of this story and to instead coyly suggest "prostitution" without providing any supporting facts of, is at the very least an example of irresponsible journalism.
arborani
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 6:08 p.m.
Paragraph #1: *implies* - NOT "infers."
GreektownDave
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.
@Moose If you venture beyond "basic grammar", you'll find that "infer" is also used to describe an idirect indication and can be used in some cases where "imply" might also fit. I did not, however, stoop to taking someone to task for their grammar or "writing ability", but rather called them on their "thinking ability" and lack of professional integrity in issuing an article so wanting of facts and detail, yet ripe with the same type speculation as is routinely chastised by the censors here.
Moose
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
Dude, if you're going to try to take someone down for their writing ability, at least learn basic grammar. The difference between infer and imply is that I imply and you infer. The writer of this article didn't infer anything, Either you inferred it from the article or you are accusing the author of implying it.
Bear
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 4:03 a.m.
eagleman, all you have to do is look in the phone book and find multiple ads for "escort seervices" to know it's legal and around. One would have to be blind or extremely ignorant not to know these simple facts.
Jason Westbrook
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 12:04 a.m.
As a "normal thinking man", when I read "Tigerwoods, sex scandal" I shrugged and went on to more important matters.
GreektownDave
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 10:51 p.m.
@eagleman As I made note of the Tiger Woods-drama in my comment, an adult would need to have had their head buried quite deep in the sand to have missed the national news coverage which was devoted to following the story of his hiring of over 15 escorts, and would also need to be quite obtuse to have missed the fact that neither he or any of the women he hired were ever charged with "prostitution" or "solicitation", even though sex was involved, since they advertised their "services" as "escorts" or "companions". The lessons of the "head-in-the-sand" and "isolationist" mentality which would keep a normal, thinking adult from being aware of such modern occurences should have been learned decades ago, when that very type mentality allowed Hitler and the Nazis to terrorize Europe, while many here in the U.S. chose to remain blissfully ignorant to the attrocities. History didn't stop with the enacting of "The Mann Act", so an astute student of it would do well to stay well-versed in history's precursor: current events.
eagleman
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 10:01 p.m.
She was from Ohio, not Ann Arbor. Why in God's name would "every adult" know that the hiring of an escort is a legal practice? I and I suspect a great majority of everyone else, am not in the practice of hiring escorts. It appears that you are based on your rather lengthy riposte to the article. Is Greektown the place you take your lucky ladies, Dave?
f4phantomII
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 8:59 p.m.
Obviously, the man is not married.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 2:58 a.m.
I'm thinking obviously he is.
Mick52
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 2:14 a.m.
Oh. Well that changes everything.
sandalwood
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 8:59 p.m.
Seem's like she was going to stiff him, now they are both are going to get screwed!!
An Arborigine
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 8:33 p.m.
Man invites woman to his house. Things may or may not occur between consenting adults. If the woman takes cash that has been left on, say a dresser, then refuses to return said cash when the consent ceases, wouldn't that be considered robbery?
noyfb
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
he did the right thing. period. he didnt want her in his house any more, so call the police.
music to my ear
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 8:05 p.m.
well momma always says stupid is as stupid does I am just saying
B2Pilot
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.
Reminds me of Stabenow's husband a few years back when he was caught with a prostitute; she was arrested and he was allowed to drive back to Lansing on a suspended liscense. Hope it was worth it
Goober
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
Just like the old movie.... "Dumb & Dumber"!
LucyC
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:40 p.m.
( I also hope the picture above wasn't taken at the scene, because seriously, what are you going to get for 17 bucks?)
jim
Sat, Dec 8, 2012 : 1:25 a.m.
Since she's from Ohio, for $17 I hope he got change back.
johnnya2
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
Depends, I used to have work down in Ypsi Township and $17 could have gotten me a lot, especially during the daylight hours.
Robo
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 11:16 a.m.
that photo was clearly taken in Ypsi. We are the low price leader.
smokeblwr
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
It also appears to be two men exchanging monies.
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.
The usual commenters seem flustered, fibrillated and fully atwitter. Some enterprising post-grad should study today's salivation flow rates on an NIH grant.
LucyC
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
Can someone explain from a legal standpoint why she was arrested and he wasn't? How is she guilty of prostitution if he isn't guilty of soliciting a prostitute? Also, who were the cops? Were they male or female?
Woman in Ypsilanti
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 9:03 p.m.
I would love to see the data on this. What is the ratio of arrests of prostitutes to johns? It sometimes seems to me that the police are always going after the women or men who are sex workers but they ignore the guys who employ them.
Ariel
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:24 p.m.
Buyer's remorse
Robo
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 11:14 a.m.
HA! Ed wins.
Ed Kimball
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
Sounds at least as much like seller's remorse to me!
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
Truly the bane of consumerism
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:15 p.m.
The law says that prostitution is illegal. But is it? That is, does selling sexual services constitute a crime? In much of history, those peoples who have not been burdened by capricious and discriminatory religious moralism accepted "prostitution" as a normal business. Prostitution was even part of certain religions (e.g., the Ancient Roman Vestal Virgins ). It's significant to keep in mind that marriage is a contract wherein, traditionalist Christians say, a man marries a woman with the "understanding" she will provide certain kinds of labor and sexual services (varying wildly according to whatever is accepted). The ruse is that the contract only implied the woman would bear the man's children. But in practice: the male often brought in additional requirements according to his expectations. How much actual crime is stopped by anti-prostitution laws? There's a long record of the ways in which women are exploited via prostitute-like "duties." But that involves the use of force and intimidation against women - it's not rational to claim that a woman operating independently and of her own accord is exploited illegally. And the other side of the coin in situations like those in this article lends credence to the claim that men have "needs" and they will seek to satisfy them, sometimes contracting with a prostitute. So is it therefore illegal for men to have such biological needs? Massively contorted thinking aside: this is a simple case of a contract violation. So, pending further information, the police arrested the woman for violating her contract with the man who offered agreed-upon payment in return for sexual services. Good job! Of course the woman might want to change to more lucrative careers: she could get a "divinity degree" and solicit donations (payment) for offering dubious moralistic doctrines - and - avoid paying taxes on that income!
Sue
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 7:27 a.m.
Tru2Blu76, Good post, you are so right!
WalkingJoe
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 9:10 p.m.
I truly believe this is the longest comment I have seen on annarbor.com. And maybe longer than some Supreme Court decisions.
trespass
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
If it were just a contract violation the police would have said it is a civil matter and you will have to take her to court. They arrested her because it is still listed a a crime, whether or not it should be is a good question.
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:21 p.m.
Congratulations, you've made prostitution seem mundane.
NoPC
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:14 p.m.
Buckeyes... always trying to skirt the system.
Trouble
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.
Buckeyes Never Keep their Word!
Billy Bob Schwartz
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 9 p.m.
But they bring business to Michigan.
UtrespassM
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 6:43 p.m.
What is the name of this 45 years old Ann Arbor man?
OLDTIMER3
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 12:32 a.m.
I think prostitutes call all their clients "JOHNS"
An Arborigine
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
Shall we go with the term "hobbyist"?
John of Saline
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
I would like to register my objection to that particular colloquialism.
Brad
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
The headline says he is "John".
Chase Ingersoll
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 6:34 p.m.
And what was the arrest for - solicitation, fraud ?
Kyle Feldscher
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
Sorry if it's unclear - the woman was reported for robbery and was arrested on suspicion of robbery.
WalkingJoe
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 6:20 p.m.
Why was he upset about her raising her price? After all she drove from Ohio and didn't he see how much gas jumped up in the last few days?
Brad
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.
"What would you do if you agreed on a price for a prostitute's services, only for her to take your money and raise her price?" No poll?
Kevin Shabinski
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 6:58 p.m.
Actually, the pole was denied.
Ron Granger
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
The pole was implied.
Top Cat
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 6:03 p.m.
Isn't that like stealing a car and then complaining that the heat doesn't work ?
johnnya2
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 5:12 p.m.
Well actually some options on cars do cost more, as do certain options performed by sex workers. She may have quoted him a price for the two door model, but he wanted the trunk.
Robo
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 11:10 a.m.
BOOOO! you guys need better material.
5c0++ H4d13y
Fri, Aug 31, 2012 : 1:42 a.m.
Or like stealing a car only to have it run out of gas.
MIKE
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 10:33 p.m.
No, it's more like buying a car, and then finding out the keys cost extra.
linuxtuxguy
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 5:47 p.m.
I'm confused; did he admit to the police that he was soliciting prostitution? If so, why was he not also arrested?
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 6:01 p.m.
The answer isn't immediately clear. From what it sounds like, there's a lot of confusion about the exact legal standard that the man would have had to cross in order to be arrested at the scene. Lt. Bush emphasized to me that he very well could face charges and be arrested after the case is turned over to prosecutors.
Ricebrnr
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 : 5:30 p.m.
"a 19-year-old Ohio woman he had contacted online." 'The man was not arrested, and it'll be up to Washtenaw County prosecutors to determine charges in the case" Solicit sex services Face to Face = arrest. Solicit sex service across state lines electronically = ??? Got it, hope the John's are paying attention.