Suffolk police use Craigslist again for prostitution sting

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Norfolk police charge 7 with soliciting for prostitution on Craigslist

Three arrested in Suffolk in prostitution sting on Craigslist

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By Kristin Davis
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 3, 2008

SUFFOLK

For the second time in five months, Suffolk police have used Craigslist in a prostitution sting. But instead of answering ads placed by women on the popular trading Web site, police posted the ads.

The one-day operation conducted by the police department’s Special Investigations Unit last week resulted in three arrests.

Police have charged Carl Leon Vann, 50, of Brown Lane in Suffolk and Dale Patrick Mason, 50, of the 100 block of Kennet Drive in Suffolk each with one count of solicitation to commit prostitution. Allen Watts Baker, 27, of the 9400 block of Robinson Church Road in Charlotte, N.C., was also charged with solicitation to commit prostitution, police said. All the men were released on summonses.

Suffolk police charged three women with prostitution in a similar sting in April. In those cases, police used Craigslist as a directory. An ad placed by police this time used a “decoy prostitute,” according to a Suffolk news release.

“The difference in the two operations was that this one focused on the 'customers’ and the last one focused on the 'service providers,’” city spokeswoman Debbie George said in an e-mail.

Police in other communities have used Craigslist to conduct similar stings. The Web site has said it does not condone illegal activity and monitors the ads.

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very clear

Submitted by crazy crazy on Mon, 09/15/2008 at 12:23 pm.

Its so clear to me now that the people that live all around me in Suffolk are not very smart people. Get a life people. Think about this, since none of you know anything about what is really going on in Suffolk and what our police are doing in Suffolk, go down to your local police dept and sign up for some ride alongs especially on a weekend evening around the 1st, 15th, or 30th of the month. You will get a first hand look of what our police dept is doing for us. To the person who says that the police dept needs budget cuts what an idiot you are! Some of these policeman don't even have bullet proof vests that fit properly because of the lack of budget! I hope and pray that none of your family members EVER become a cop! Idiots!

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What next?

Submitted by Patriot on Thu, 09/04/2008 at 12:52 pm.

How about the Suffolk Police put 20 or 30 televisions on the side of rt460 out towards Winsor and anyone who pulls over and picks one up gets arrested! Better yet scatter some quarters on the sidewalk downtown and arrest anyone who picks them up!

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Poor Craigslist

Submitted by Ethan on Wed, 09/03/2008 at 10:07 pm.

Poor craigslist gets all this bad press. It's a wonderful resource, you don't have to go into the "adult" threads. The newspapers have to hate it since the job listing do well and the classifieds are free. Pilot made their own competitor called DealSpotter, but it's difficult to get a listing completed (I tried it once and gave up, they wanted me to call them on the phone? Huh?). What I really find fascinating is Craigslist is so useful and popular, and has absolutely no graphics on the site. It's a testament to usability.

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Crime is a crime but . . .

Submitted by Redskin44 on Wed, 09/03/2008 at 9:06 pm.

A crime is a crime but . . . there is a gang and drug problem in the city of Suffolk. Home invasions and thievery also seem to be surging. IMHO, I believe the police's limited resources would be better served fighting, preventing and discouraging violent crime and drug dealing.

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Better use of resources?

Submitted by Wm D Tabor DDS on Wed, 09/03/2008 at 8:54 pm.

I find it telling that this article appeared just 30 minutes after another depicting a homeowner who had to defend himself against an armed home invader in Suffolk.

Considering the increase in such crimes in Suffolk in recent months, could the Suffolk police not find something more constructive to do than to make criminals of people who are harming no one?

I would suggest to the people of Suffolk that any police department that can devote resources to this sort of operation is in serious need of a budget cut.

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