PLANT CITY - If you're looking for a prostitute, don't come to Plant City, police say.
Officers are cracking down on prostitution near the downtown historic district, where they say sex has been for sale for as little as $4.
In the past few weeks, the police department has arrested three women ranging in age from 23 to 38 and 16 men ranging in age from 22 to 73. Police have periodically battled prostitution over the years but they say the recent spike is due to low prices sometimes charged by the women. Sexual favors are being sold for as little as $4 to $20, police said.
Working with local businesses south of the historic downtown area, investigators were able to gather information about exact times and locations of the sex trade, according to police.
Undercover officers targeted women walking the streets and soliciting in the prostitution-plagued area, while a plainclothes female officer attracted male customers, resulting in those arrests, police said.
Police say they will continue to monitor the situation and conduct periodic prostitution stings.
Police say those arrested on prostitution solicitation charges include: Naomi Lynn Parzyck, 34, Lisa Michelle Hall, 38, Lisa Dawn Mote, 23, Oscar Mendez, 22, Toney Knighten, 51, Daniel Arthur Donahue, 54, Ricardo Doria-Guerrero, 36, Arnulfo Montelongo, 39, James Edward Cowder, 61, Barney Louis Paschall, 67, Francisco Ibarra, 51, Henry T. Wald, 73, Robert R. Fields, 69, Valentin Posadas, 57, Glenn Gibbs, 49, Samuel Johnson, 51, James Padgett, 38, Darryl Turner, 47, and Mauricio Urquilla-Velis, 37.
Urquilla-Velis was also charged with resisting arrest, fleeing to elude, aggravated assault on a police officer with a motor vehicle and reckless driving, police said.
Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 627-4769.
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