Crime & Safety
Sarasota Prostitution Sting Nets 5 Arrests
Breaking: Five men from Sarasota and Bradenton face charges after a Thursday night crackdown on prostitution along North Tamiami Trail.
SARASOTA, FL — Five men from Sarasota and Bradenton face charges after an undercover prostitution operation was conducted Thursday night along North Tamiami Trail.
According to the Sarasota Police Department, officers conducted the operation in the 4700 block of North Tamiami Trail Sept. 22. All five men were charged with solicitation of prostitution. Three had their vehicles seized under city code.
The arrested were:
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- Jeffrey Mehrtens, 44, of Sarasota
- Joshua Rodriguez, 28, of Sarasota
- Rahul Sharma, 21, of Bradenton
- Jeremiah Nichol, 29, of Sarasota
- Kenneth Puskas, 54, of Sarasota
The police department periodically conducts such undercover operations to crack down on prostitution within the city limits. No further information about the operation has been released.
Jail cell image via Shutterstock/ Booking photos of Mehrtens, Rodriguez, Sharma, Nichol and Puskas courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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