Police arrested 10 women along Mobile Highway and the West South Boulevard Friday night with the help of undercover officers. If some of the women pictured look familiar to you, it may be because we've shown their images before on WSFA 12 News for the same crime.
At least three of the women arrested in the recent bust were arrested for the same crime last month. Many residents of Montgomery know the sex trade has been a problem in that area of the city for some time. The first crackdown on prostitution along the Southern Boulevard and Mobile Highway this year came in response fed-up business owners in the area.
Montgomery police made more that 20 prostitution arrests since August, but to the casual observer, their efforts have in no way curbed the illegal sex trade along this strip. Business owner, Nash Patakh, says, "I don't see an immediate solution because this problem has been in this area for quite a long time. A mother of two arrested in late August for prostitution shed light on one part of the problem while defending her lifestyle.
Because I'm on crack and when you're on crack you don't care about anything. Friday, McElya was back in jail a second time in less than three weeks along with nine other women, but for how long is unknown. Basically after the testimony, we're through with it. It's up to the other part of the criminal justice system after that. Since prostitution is a misdemeanor, the municipal judges must grant bond, which means many offenders are back on the streets within hours.
One solution would be making prostitution a felony, which could help to keep these kind of offenders in jail longer. All except two of the suspects arrested Friday have previous prostitution and drug related charges.
