KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Groups of men were taken into custody in an Osceola County, Fla., neighborhood Friday night accused of soliciting undercover police officers posing as prostitutes.
Officers in Kissimmee set up the sex sting near a day-care center after neighbors complained of prostitutes walking the streets.
Local 6 showed video of several motorists pulling next to the women in the middle of roads.
"Painters, cashiers and even businessmen stopped to solicit sex," Local 6’s Erik von Ancken said. "And most of them denied it, even though the decoys were wearing microphones."
David Parsons was taken into custody during the sex sting but denied doing anything wrong.
"I am embarrassed as heck right now," Parson said. "All I was doing was talking.
"Another man said he felt stupid and had a wife and daughter waiting for him at home.
"People will drive up and ask them to do the most vile and disgusting sex acts for money," Kissimmee police Capt. Warren Shepard said. "It brings in that type of person into the neighborhood.
"Kissimmee police said most of the prostitutes on 192 in Kissimmee are hooked on drugs and use the money on their habit.
"This is not a victimless crime," Shepard said. "The prostitutes themselves are often the victims of violent crimes. They are robbed, stabbed and their teeth are knocked out. And, in turn, they also pass on communicable diseases."
Local 6 reported that a sex act on the streets of Kissimmee costs about $20.