Sex Offenses

Sex offenses are up 12% from last year.

Prostitution and Solicitation

Prostitution is most commonly associated with “streetwalking”—that is, prostitutes working the streets and corners, looking for clients to pick them up in cars. This type of prostitution has long been considered a sign of urban decay and social disorganization. Historically, the city has tolerated a fair amount of this activity in the “stroll area” of lower Scott Avenue. However, with the sudden increase in activity in both lower and upper sections of Scott Avenue, Central City will aggressively target the offenders to eradicate the problem.

Arrests of streetwalkers—as opposed to “johns”—were made on several Central City streets last year, including three sections of Scott Avenue, two areas of Carter Street and two sections along Breeze Street. This year, the activity has been more rampant but confined along Scott Avenue.

Although more arrests were made this year, the prostitutes are being released more readily. Most of the prostitutes are back on the street within 48 hours.

Less visible, but no less serious, is the type of prostitution that involves high-class escort services, health clubs, or massage parlors fronting for prostitution rings. The Special Investigations Unit is investigating several reports of prostitutes frequenting the newer sports clubs of upper Scott Avenue. It is unclear whether the prostitutes are organized or acting independently.

In one unusual incident—classified as solicitation because nothing else seems to fit—a man in his 40s approached two females and offered to pay them to have sex with an older man while he videotaped them. The women reported the incident to the police, but the suspect never returned, as he said he would, to meet them.

Indecent Assault

Indecent assault involves the unwanted touching of one person by another in a private area or with sexual overtones. In about 60% of incidents, the offender and victim know each other. Incidents that show that the offender attempted or intended to rape the victim are counted as rapes, not as indecent assaults. In addition, any force or injury would change the type of crime to aggravated assault rather than indecent assault.

This crime is the only one which saw a decrease this year. Most of the acquaintance incidents involve an older man taking advantage of a younger girl; some of these were domestic in nature, with the suspect an uncle or a stepfather. Several of the reports are also from employees who were harassed by their employers or co-workers. In a string of incidents, young females in West Central City were approached from behind and grabbed on the buttocks. This is the most common form of “blitz” style indecent assault, although no real patterns developed this year.

Indecent Exposure

The 61% increase in indecent exposure this year is accompanied by a disturbing trend involving more aggressive behavior than simple “flashing.” In at least eight cases, police arrested individuals engaged in sexual activity in restrooms.

A minority of cases involved homeless or intoxicated people urinating in public places, and a few couples showing too much indiscretion in front of open windows.

Annoying & Accosting

“Annoying and Accosting a Member of the Opposite Sex” is a form of criminal harassment. Generally, it involves a man repeatedly following, shouting, making off-color suggestions, hooting, repeatedly asking for a date, or otherwise harassing a woman. Interestingly, many of these crimes took place in the “stroll area” of Scott Avenue and were reported by women mistaken to be prostitutes. Although complaints of this crime have decreased, thus producing fewer arrests, it is understood that prostitutes who are harrassed would not report the offense.