A local political candidate is among nearly a dozen people charged with prostitution in Waterloo following a sting operation at a local hotel. In all, 11 people were taken into custody Tuesday on prostitution charges. Waterloo police say three women, seven men, and a juvenile were arrested as part of an on-going investigation into human trafficking that also involved the Iowa Division of Criminal of Investigation.
Court records show two of the men arrested were 29-year-old Travis Biggs, a photography studio owner who announced his candidacy for the Cedar Falls city council last month, and 35-year-old Sirr Gardner, who’s a youth football coach in Waterloo. Police say an investigation into pimping is being conducted and more charges could be filed in the case.
The list of people arrested in the operation:
A junenile male, 17, of Cedar Falls
Anglene Garrett, 23, of Waterloo
Sade VanArsdale, 23, of Waterloo
Lamin Trawally, 27, of Des Moines
Tigstue Woldeyohanns, 28, of Cedar Falls
Travis Biggs, 29, of Cedar Falls
Osamah Alabbad, 30, of Dubuque
Sirr Gardner, 35, of Waterloo
Cyntia Arshad, 42, of Waterloo
Adem Sakanovic, 42, of Waterloo
Stephen Thomas, 46, of Marion
(Reporting by Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Oelwein)