Crime & Safety
23 Men Arrested In Bloomington Prostitution Sting: Chief
"This is the red light district in Amsterdam," Chief Booker Hodges said, holding up an image. "We got the orange jumpsuit district."
BLOOMINGTON, MN — Bloomington police arrested 23 men in a prostitution sting last week, the department's chief announced Monday.
Police posted fake ads for an adult sex worker online using images of an undercover Bloomington officer. In just two days — Wednesday and Thursday — 211 people responded to the ad, Chief Booker Hodges said at a news conference Monday.
"This is the red light district in Amsterdam," Hodges said, holding up an image. "We don't have one of these in Bloomington. We got the orange jumpsuit district."
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The men will be charged with gross misdemeanor soliciting of prostitution charges. If convicted, each man faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Hodges said a 24th man may also be charged in the sting operation.
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The men arrested last week came from the following cities, according to Hodges:
- Edina
- Bloomington (2)
- Brooklyn Center
- Brooklyn Park
- Burnsville
- Cottage Grove
- Eden Prarie
- Farmington
- Forest Lake
- Fridley
- Hopkins
- Montrose
- Mound
- Prior Lake
- Richfield
- Savage
- St. Paul
- St. Paul Park
Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and the police departments from Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, and Richfield assisted Bloomington in the operation.
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