Police arrest 6 men in prostitution sting in Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township
Police arrested 6 men Thursday for allegedly soliciting prostitution as officers conducted a sting operation along East Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township.
Ypsilanti police officers and Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies teamed up for the operation that ran from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., an Ypsilanti police news release said.
The bust is 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.
Police have made at least 5 other prostitution busts in that area since May.
The men arrested Thursday have been released as charges are pending.
Ypsilanti police Det. Sgt. Troy Fulton could not be reached for comment this morning.
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
McDrew
Wed, Oct 5, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.
I find the acronym for the program name pretty tacky. EASY? Really?
Latosha Rinesmith
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 5:58 p.m.
And it only took ya'll 30 years to realize that there was this type of issue going on!! Good Job Ypsi!! Seriously though, why not make it impossible for the WOMEN to do this, and put them in rehab?? You know some would say this is 'an only choice' type of life choice, but I beg to differ, you can find something better to do than sell yourself and belittle yourself (both giving and receiving this behavior)? Is it really worth it?!?! I am pretty sure these women haven't given a second glance at trying to better their lives, to better themselves and get off the pity pot. As far as the men, well all I am going to say is TSK TSK.. Haven't you ever heard of blow up dolls (they cost the same amount, and you can't get an STD from them)..
Marcy
Sat, Oct 1, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
Thank you again, as someone who lives in the area...thank you thank you.........and now if my neighbors would stop inviting drug dealing bike riders into the neighbor, life would be better.
RJA
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 5:17 p.m.
Great Job, Ypsilanti Police and WCPD!! Pictures and names would be great, but to some it would cause a lot of divorce cases, violence and perhaps killings. Many people say, what the spouse doesn't know won't hurt them, I dis-agree.
John A2
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 5:10 p.m.
I hope they learn their lesson and never ever get horny again.
AdmiralMoose
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 4:58 p.m.
Keep up the good work YPD and WCSD!
lisasimpson
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.
Looks like Ypsilanti needs a Video Vigilante like they have on Robinson in OKC!
kochmann
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 3:17 p.m.
The Office of Vice and Virtue at it again!!! Sieg Heil Amerika. The Saudis love us for this. Anti-prostitution laws are misogyny in action.
treetowncartel
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
I never understood why these people just don't go to Windsor where it is legal.
glimmertwin
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
How dumb can you be? Picking up hookers especially as well-publicized as this enforcement campaign has been.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 2:23 p.m.
It is about time they've gone after the men involved.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 3:40 p.m.
I'll set 'em up and you can knock 'em down.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.
Why don't they ever arrest the Johns? oh, wait.....
Mr. Ed
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.
Print the names and pictures of the arrested along with there home towns. .
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.
There are jurisdictions that do this. I hear it's very effective.
Sciomanone1
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.
yes, show the pictures of each of the men and their name and I am sure it will stop soon, their boy friend and the wife will not like it so they will keep them home more and not let them out to go and play
Ignatz
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 2:32 p.m.
Now, that would be cruel and unusual punishment.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
Why? Nobody will see it. We don't have a newspaper anymore.
craigjjs
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
Print your name and picture along with home towns. Vindictive posts are illegal, aren't they?
City Confidential
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 12:52 p.m.
"solicitation of prostitution" is someone trying to purchase the services of a prostitute. In this case, this means men were arrested while trying to purchase the services of a "prostitute" who was an undercover police officer, male or female. No females were committing any crimes during this operation, so no females were arrested. I am personally very glad that the operation is shifting focus, at least this time, on the men who solicit. Some prostitutes have little choice in what they do as a result of addiction, coercion, human trafficking, child exploitation, etc. All of these men who solicit could choose to stay home and not solicit.
L'chaim
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 1:59 p.m.
I read several years ago that upwards or 80% of women involved in prostitution were sexually abused as children/young adults. Not terribly surprising. I agree with you on this, the pimps and the johns are the real criminals. I also think that prostitution should be decriminalized, if not simply legalized, for the health and safety of everyone.
xmo
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 12:50 p.m.
How much does this "Sting Operation" cost? "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." Can we afford to spend our limited resources on this effort? (I know that one life is important but maybe we could save more lives by spending this money somewhere else)
Sciomanone1
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 12:25 p.m.
Why did only men get arrested, why not the females, or was the prosititution and all of them just men? The story was confusing and if you want to stop this, just put all of the names of everyone on the site here and I am sure it will stop soon, that is what alot of other city's do and it does stop soon later.
jjc155
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 6:03 p.m.
Maaaayyyybbbeee the "protitutes" were undercover female officers, LOL I'll clue u all into something, 99.99% of the time a man is arrested for Solicitation, they solicited an undercover female officer.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
And a lot of the time, it is the women they arrest. I am glad that the are finally arresting the men involved. It is about time!
L'chaim
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
No, it says the men solicited prostitution, they were trying to obtain prostitutes, sex. They aren't pimps, they're johns. the cops posed as pimps, apparently (not stated, an assumption). It's not confusing so much as uninformative in regards to the operational logistics. Although, killabee (or I) has gotten it wrong.
ThaKillaBee
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 1:26 p.m.
It's reasonable to assume that the prostitutes were not on-site at the time, only their pimps, and therefore only they were arrested. Not confusing if you try to understand the words you are reading.
breadman
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 11:48 a.m.
Gee wizzzzzzz! More jobs taken away! Just no way to make a living too feed the children at home......
bedrog
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 11:48 a.m.
"Reverse prostitution"??? Sounds like either something from the kama sutra or where hookers pay "johns".