HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Mayor Vince Lago-MemorandumCITY OF CORAL GABLES
-MEMORANDUM-
TO: MAYOR VINCE LAGO
CITY OF ORAL GABLES
FROM: EDWARD J. HUDAK. JR.
CHIEF OF POLICE
BACKGROVND
DATE: MAY 11, 2021
SUBJECT: ANTI -PROSTITUTION &
HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK
FORCE
On December 6, 2016, the City of Coral Gables Commission enacted Ordinance 14-141
prohibiting; all hotel motel rooms from renting on an hourly basis. The Gables Cove Motel, aka
The Wishes Motel, located at 4700 SW Eighth Street, was renting roams on an hourly basis.
This motel is located at the intersection of Cortez Street and SW Eighth Street, an area
historically associated with illegal and illicit activity.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS
From January 1, 2015 to present, the Coral Gables Police Department responded to twenty-four
(24) calls for service along the SW Eight Street corridor regarding solicitation and prostitution.
Fourteen (14) of the calls for service were determined to be in our jurisdiction. The Coral Gables
Police Department Special Investigations Section (SIS) conducted twenty-six (261 undercover
operations which included arrests, surveillances, and enforcement of code violations.
On February 21, 2019, "The Wishes Motel" was found to be in violation of the City Ordinance.
The Coral Gables Police Department notified Code Enforcement, who responded and issued the
owner management a warning. No additional violations were observed.
On May 16, 2019, the Special Investigations Section assisted the State Attorney's Office Human
Trafficking Section on a social media investigation at "The Wishes Motel". The State
Attorney's Office led the operation which targeted individuals who used social media forums,
platforms, and apps to facilitate prostitution. This is currently the prevalent method used for the
solicitation of prostitution. This operation resulted in the arrest of four (4) individuals for
prostitution and facilitating prostitution.
MULTI -AGENCY ANTI -PROSTITUTION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK
FORCE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS
On July 24, 2017, the City of Coral Gables and the City of Miami entered into a Mutual Aid
Agreement to combat Human Trafficking and Prostitution and other related criminal violations.
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The Task Force conducted fifteen (15) proactive ❑peratioris along the Eighth Street corridor
including "The Wishes Motel" and businesses in the area that may contribute to prostitution. L
The operations consisted of the following: Qm a
• Undercover surveillance
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■ Undercover officers attempting to rent rooms on an hourly basis o a, e�qq
■ Interviewing of potential Human Trafficking victims
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TASK FORCE ANNUAL ❑PERATIONS STA`1`ISTICS N
0
2018-YT❑ v
i C
V] p
2018 >E:nfurcement Activity:
Operations: 5
ArrestTotal: 57
Friday, August 10, 2018
1 _ .__ .Arrests
Felony 1
Misdemeanor
I Total Arrest 10
Charges
Narcotics Nexus
Prostitution
Friday, July 13, 2018
r Arrests s Charges
Felony 1 Narcotics Nexus 1
Misdemeanor 11 Prostitution 11
L Total Arrest 12
Friday, April 20, 2018
Arrests Charges
Felony--- I Narcotics Nexus 1
Misdemeanor 9 Prostitution 10
Total Arrest 10
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Arrests Charges
Felony 1 Narcotics Nexus I
Misdemeanor 13 Prostitution 14
Total Arrest 14-
Friday, October 20, 2018
Arrests Cha es
Felony _.. l Narcotics Nexus
Misdemeanor 10 Prostitution - 11
Total Arrest 1.1_
2019 Enforcement Activit. :
Operations: 9
Arrest Total: 62
Tuesday. March 5, 2019
Arrest Totals Charges
Felony 1 ` Narcotics Nexus i
Misdemeanor 6 Prostitution 16
LTotal Arrests 6
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
.Arrest Totals Charges
Felony Narcotics Nexus }
Misdemeanor _ A 8 _ Prostitution
Total Arrests 8
Thurso % May 9, 2019
_
j__.._j-
Arrest Totals Charges
Felony 7 1 Narcotics Nexus
Misdemeanor 7 Prostitution 7
G T al Arrests $
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Arrest Totals Charges
Felony T Narcotics Nexus
Misdemeanor ` S Prostitution 8
+-
LTotal Arrests S
Thursday. July 18.2019
Arrest Totals i Charges
Felony i Narcotics Nexus
Misdemeanor 10 } Prostitution 10
[Total Arrests ` 10
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Arrest Totals Charges
Felony _ Narcotics Nexus
Misdemeanor 6 Prostitution 6
Total Arrests 6 ,
Friday, September 27, 2019
Arrest Totals C_ ha
Fclon� Narcotics Nexus
Misdemeanor _ 11 Prostitution }11
Total Arrests 1 i t
3
Tuesday. October 15, 2019 a
Arrest Totals Charges
Felony f Narcotics Nexus L w
Misdemeanor 5 Prostitution S E
Total Arrests 5 '-
S
-a a
2020 Enforcement Activity:
E o Z4
Pro -active measures were curtailed due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. = ° �
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2021 Enforcement Activity:
Operations: 1
Arrest `Total: 7
February 18, 2021
Arrest Totals Charges
} Felony _ Narcotics Nexus
Misdemeanor 7 Prostitution _ 7
Total Arrests 7
TOTAL TASTE FORCE OPERATIONS AND ARREST
2018-YTD
-
a
Total Uperatians
15
Total Arrest{
Felon 6
F_ Misdemeanor 1201
Total Arrests 126
Charges _
Narcotics Nexus 8
Frostrtution 125
1 4