Police in central Iowa have arrested 20 people in a nearly 12-hour undercover prostitution sting.
The sting, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, was set up “after complaints from local business owners and citizens” about activity at a Des Moines area motel, although authorities aren’t revealing where the motel is in Polk County. The sting started at noon on Tuesday and ended just before midnight.
Nineteen of the people arrested were from central Iowa. One 27-year-old man listed Phoenix, Arizona, as his home address. A 31-year-old sports reporter for The Des Moines Register and a 54-year-old from Dallas Center who is a city councilman were among those arrested. Two of those arrested did not have an I-D and police say they have been unable to verify their identities.
The Des Moines Register is reporting another eight people were arrested at a Ramada Inn near the Des Moines Airport and charged with prostitution on Tuesday as well.