72 Busted in Phoenix while I enjoy Canada!

[Dave in Phoenix]

Here I am again enjoying Canada (Niagara Falls Region) for 9 days.

Back home in Phoenix they busted 72 private escorts and customers yesterday. I am being fed lots of info from folks back home. Mostly from newspaper ads vs web as sources of sting but I do know at least two of the providers who are very nice who got busted. Mug shots of most on our fearless Sheriff's website who boosts he is a "all crime buster" in reaction to questions about the value of using 400 cops to do such an operation which also caught some well known customers.

Our wonderful crime buster (Arpaio) says:
"During a news conference, Arpaio defended the sweep and called it just as valid as chasing murderers. "We're a full-service law enforcement agency," he said. "We go after everybody."He said prostitution, which some consider a victimless crime, brings in diseases, crime, guns, drugs and domestic violence.

Folks in Canada don't realize how good you have it vs the U.S. where private outcall as well as all prostitution is a major crime.

News report on busts:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1114raid.html

Dave in Phoenix
http://www.sexworkniagarafalls.com
http://www.sexworktoronto.com
http://www.sexworkcanada.com
http://www.sexwork.com

 

[jwmorrice]

I suspect it's unlikely to get better anytime soon. Probably going after escorts and their customers is a populist position. When things worsen socially, economically, politically, it's all too easy to take comfort in the sufferings of those who are lower in the pecking order.

jwm

 

[MuffinMuncher]

I've been through Phoenix a couple times, do you know which providers or agencies were busted?

 

[Dave in Phoenix]

I am getting E-mail reports but most are not known to me since they take the risk of newspaper ads. I do know 2 and 1 other kicked the guy out and gave him money back but she is worried there may be arrest warrent out for her, unless giving the money back got made her safe.

We have a attorney that is actively helping from the Phoenix Private List that I host..

The 72 arrested were only those that 400 cops found at home or businesses. Apparently there are many other arrest warrents not yet served.

A list is impossible... although you can see mug shoots as they get booked at
http://www.mcso.org/submenu.asp?file=CrimeOfTheWeek&TX=13-14&DESC=Sex%20Crimes&currentPage=1

MSNBC is reporting it may be the largest raid in U.S. history and Sheriff Joe promises more to come. His guys get nude with provider before busting and then have female officers pretend to be the women in the ads to bust customers that call. See http://www.msnbc.com/local/AZTRIB/M339041.asp?0LA=ajk9n

 

[stang]

"We're a full-service law enforcement agency,"

Cool.

 

[cyberbard]

Mug shots of most on our fearless Sheriff's website who boosts he is a "all crime buster" in reaction to questions about the value of using 400 cops to do such an operation which also caught some well known customers.

We are starting to see the politics in policing in Toronto...but still not nearly to the degree as in the US.

Mind you, there is a much more vocal religious community in the US that the police must also speak to by cleaning up the "immoral" acts that go on. Here, generally, we don't seem to have that voice as much.

Bard

 

[Dave in Phoenix]

bbking
Actually either azcentral.com or msnbc had a series of 16 pictures. Sheiff Joe must have called in the media since the holding area was swarming with media taking pictures of the escorts and customers. There were 3 of FEMALE police officers padding down male customers in rather submissive posses, handcuffed hands up in air against trailers.

Most of the providers were busted about 8am. They were taken to buses parked in various areas while female officers took over their phones in their homes. They spend all day in like 22 homes and 10 massage places taking calls from customers, and then arresting them for solicitation when they showed up.

The providers and those arrested were taken to a shopping center mall which was a media circus till after 8pm - then had to go to clinics for mandatory std testing before being taken to jail for booking and mug shots.

cyberbard
Yes I have written artciles on how U.S. laws are controlled by the religious right vs Canada a more secular socity respecting individual rights. See http://www.sexwork.com/whatisnew/CanadavsUSvalues.html

hdog
Most of the customers were arrested for solicitation. That is a separte crime somewhat like your communicating law but in the U.S. it applies to private not just public communicating (soliciting). In a recent case a provider was convicted by a jury just for words "full service" on website. No sex, no money involved.

The recent busts for the gals were prostitution related since money exchanged hands. The male cops having fun occurred over the last few months. They get nude but don't have sex only because they change their mindes after offer and acceptance of money. I have heard from providers that remember clients that acted weird and didn't go thru with sex. One I know said she gave the money back and she hadn't been arrested as of last night. But she is scared to death since there are many more arrest warrents yet to be executed. The 72 arrests were only the ones that were found on Thursday.

The careful escorts especially from the web try and never discuss money accept for time and if the fee is on the web site can avoid any discussion in person. But most of those busted were not the sharpest gals and all used newspaper ads and some were probably scams as so many ads are. But I also know a few sharper gays that were caught since they let their guard down and said the wrong things.

And "sex" is not defined as a specific act like in Canada. Prostitution = sex for money. Sex=ANYTHING that is arousing. Until they were laughed at so much by the media, the Az Legislature had voted to make having a arousal in a bar a crime. Who was going to inspect for aroused states?

In strip clubs a dancer touching her own breasts has been argued to be an act of prostitution but hasn't been tested in the courts. But if a male tipped a dancer and they could prove he was aroused by her touching her own breast it would be a prostituion offence!