12 Men Cited In Police Sting Operation

Three Spokane police officers disguised as prostitutes helped arrest 12 men Friday night on East Sprague Avenue as part of a sting to bust prostitution customers.

Officers hidden in buildings provided backup to the undercover “prostitutes.”

The men were arrested on misdemeanor charges of “patronizing a prostitute.”

The sting was part of the department’s ongoing effort to crack down on prostitution in the city.

“We do it to discourage solicitation” of prostitutes, said Dick Cottam, department spokesman. “If someone knows they might be soliciting a police officer, prostitution drops off.”

The officers worked an area often frequented by prostitutes from 5 to 11 p.m. Cottam said the stings are done as often as staff and money allow. , DataTimes