Operation Red Light targeted Birmingham's prostitutes and their "Johns. Police arrested 35 people, mostly on charges of soliciting prostitution, during the four-day effort. Lloyd Jones. Officers said the prostitution takes place daily, and nightly, along busy First Avenue North in the Woodlawn community.
Some of the women blatantly walk down the roadway, advertising their services. Other times, groups of women huddle together in designated spots, where they wait for the honking of a horn to signal a new customer. While prostitution happens all around Birmingham, Jones said, Woodlawn is a hot-bed of the illegal activity. Most of the men seeking the services, officers said, were married. Undercover officers pretending to be prostitutes and customers spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday making deals and then making arrests.
After three days of making prostitution arrests, the officers scoured the area again today looking for violators of any kind. Everyone from speeders to drug dealers were fair game as officers were determined to let the community know they hear their concerns and will act upon their complaints.
This week's initiative yielded more "John" arrests than prostitutes. Jones said that's just fine with him. The Birmingham police department released the following names of those charged in the operation.
On the soliciting for prostitution charges, police didn't specify whether the suspect was charged with selling sex, or buying sex. Other arrests and charges include Vaishaliben Patel, who was charged with renting a hotel room for less than 12 hours; Terry Lawson, unlawful possession of a controlled substance; and William Ross, loitering for drugs. A male juvenile was also arrested for loitering for prostitution but his name wasn't released.
