Complaints about prostitution in several areas of the city have culminated in the arrests of 17 alleged prostitutes and one suspected "John."
The arrests on 39 charges relating to prostitution occurred Monday and Tuesday in the areas of North Main Street, Riverview Avenue and East Third Street in the neighborhoods of North Riverdale, Dayton View and Springfield, the Dayton Police Department said in a report issued Tuesday.
Police also recovered crack pipes, syringes, quantities of marijuana and heroin and two vehicles, police said.
"Whenever you see prostitution arrests, it's tied in with drug problem or something they are trying to feed or fuel through prostitute," Dayton Lt. Joe Wiesman told NewsCenter 7's Yuna Lee.
Monday, undercover detectives posing as "Johns" arrested nine women in six hours. They range in age from 24 to 50.
Eight more women were arrested Tuesday.
One man was arrested on drug charges, police said.
Wiesman said the citizen's complaints drove this two-day operation.
"It is something out there right now and it is plentiful. A lot of times with nicer weather, they are out walking more," he said.
