Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Six suspects accused of prostitution and other crimes were swept up late Tuesday in a Shawano police sting intended to catch possible perpetrators of human trafficking.
Though no trafficking was uncovered, police did make arrests for outstanding warrants, probation and parole violations, and drug offenses.
Five municipal citations were also issued for prostitution.
The operation was patterned after similar International Crimes Against Children Task Force efforts that involve officers working undercover on social media, either posting or responding to online ads.
After contact was made, arrangements were made for a sexual rendezvous in the city.
The location in this case was in the vicinity of the Shawano County Highway Department on Richmond Street, according to the Police Department; the idea being that the suspects would be meeting a trucker who would be parked there.
Four meetings took place between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 1 a.m. Wednesday.
At the first encounter, a 30-year-old Green Bay woman was taken into custody for a probation violation and cited for prostitution and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A 50-year-old De Pere man who drove her to the rendezvous was arrested on an outstanding warrant and cited for operating after revocation and possession of paraphernalia.
Two women were arrested at the next meeting, one 37 and the other 45, both of Green Bay. Both were taken into custody for probation violations and cited for prostitution.
In the third incident, a 31-year-old Milwaukee woman was cited for prostitution, and in the fourth, a 29-year-old Milwaukee woman was cited for prostitution and possession of marijuana.
It was the fourth such operation city police have conducted. No human trafficking, which likely would have involved much younger suspects, according to police, was found in those operations either.
Nevertheless, the operations have been worthwhile for nabbing others wanted by the law or who have been engaged in drug activity and other crimes, Police Chief Dan Mauel said.
“Prostitution is not a victimless crime,” Mauel said, adding that many of those involved are undertaking it to support a drug habit.
“This needs attention. These people are out there, and they’re bringing drugs into our communities,” he said. “This was well worth the effort.”