Kent officers use undercover sting to arrest men seeking prostitutes

Kent officers use undercover sting to arrest men seeking prostitutes

Ads placed on website for men to meet women at local motels

Kent Police arrested several men for investigation of patronizing a prostitute during a recent undercover sting at two motels.

An undercover officer placed ads on the website MegaPersonals.com in an effort to get men to respond to the postings and meet the woman at local hotels, according to the police report. The operation is an effort to reduce sex trafficking by apprehending people attempting to purchase sex, police said.

In one case at about 1:33 p.m. on Feb. 22, the detective posted an ad with four photos of a blonde woman dressed in lingerie. The ad’s title read, “Sexy college babe.” A phone number was listed with the ad for response by texting or calling. The ad also included rates that ranged from $50 per hour to $150 per hour depending what the man wanted.

A man texted the number and reportedly agreed to pay $80 for sex by meeting the woman at the Econo Lodge, 1233 Central Ave. N. The two exchanged text messages, including when the man arrived in the motel parking lot. When the man stepped out of his vehicle, officers arrested him. Police also impounded his vehicle. The man initially denied to police that he went to the motel for sex but later admitted he was going to pay $80 for sex.

In the second incident at about 1:37 a.m. on Feb. 24, an undercover officer posted an ad on MegaPersonals with the title, “Late Night Fun.” A man replied to the phone number by texting and agreed to meet the woman at the Extended Stay motel, 22520 83rd Ave. S. He reportedly agreed to pay $80 for 45 minutes of sex.

When the man knocked on the motel door where he expected to meet the woman, officers arrested him for investigation of patronizing a prostitute. Police also impounded his rental vehicle.

Officers arrested eight men and impounded five vehicles during the two-day sting at the Extended Stay, according to police.

Woman attacks ex’s new girlfriend

A man pulled into the Grocery Outlet parking lot, 26104 Pacific Highway S., to conduct a child exchange with his ex at about 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 23. He brought his new girlfriend along with him.

The man’s ex began to yell at the girlfriend, charged the vehicle and pulled the woman out, according to the police report. The man’s ex and a couple of her friends reportedly began to punch and kick the woman.

Officers arrested the former girlfriend and one of her friends for investigation of fourth-degree assault. The new girlfriend had cuts and bruises on her face.

Woman scratches boyfriend

Police arrested a woman for investigation of fourth-degree assault after she allegedly scratched her boyfriend’s face during a dispute at about 9:24 p.m. on Feb. 24 at a house in the 800 block of Fourth Avenue North.

Witnesses heard screaming and glass breaking coming from the home, according to the police report. The woman told police it was just a misunderstanding, although she admitted she might have scratched her boyfriend’s face. She said they had been dating for about 18 months and had a child together.

The boyfriend had scratches on his face, according to officers. Police arrested the man for a warrant out of Auburn for failure to appear for a domestic violence order violation. The man declined to talk to officers about the incident and scratches on his face.


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