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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Mayor Vince Lago-MemorandumCITY OF CORAL GABLES -MEMORANDUM- TO: MAYOR VINCE LAGO CITY OF CORAL GABLES FROM: EDWARD J. HUDAK. JR. CHIEF OF P LICE BACKGROL ND 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 rooms 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. 61D2 2)&Jbrni !- Meuppr V1nCZ. Lay- N-eMoro - C.lunr7 The Task Force conducted fifteen (15) proactive operations along the Eighth Street corridor including "The Wishes Motel" and businesses in the area that may contribute to prostitution. The operations consisted of the following: • Undercover surveillance • Undercover officers attempting to rent rooms on an hourly basis ■ Interviewing of potential Human Trafficking victims TASK FORCE ANNUAL ❑PERATIONS STATISTICS 2018-YTD 2018 Enforcement Activity: Operations: 5 Arrest Total: 57 Friday, August 10, 2018 [ Arrests [-Felony r Misdemeanor Total Arrest Friday, Julia' 13, 2018 r —Arrests Felony Misdemeanor [Total Arrest Friday, April 20, 2018 Arrests Felony Misdemeanor Total Arrest 10 Thursday, February 15, 2018 Arrests Felony Misdemeanor Total Arrest 13 14 Friday, October 20, 2018 Arrests Felony _ Misdemeanor Total Arrest 10 11 Charges Narcotics Nexus Prostitution Charges amcotics Nexus Prostitution Charges Narcotics Nexus Prostitution Charges —� Narcotics Nexus P rostitution 14 Cha ' es Narcotics Nexus Prostitution 2 Felony Misdemeanor T af-Arrests 2019 Enforcement Activity: Operations: 9 Arrest Total: 62 Tuesday. March 5, 2019 I Arrest Totals Felon Misdemeanor , 6 Total Arrests 6 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Arrest Totals I Charges Felon , Narcotics Nexus isdemeanor A 8 _ Prostitution i 8 I Total Arrests 8 Charges Narcotics Nexus T ' Prostitution Thursday, May 9, 2019 Arrest Totals �1 Charges Narcotics Nexus 7 Prostitution 8 Thursda,,, June 20, 2019 Arrest Totals Felony Misdemeanor ` 8 Total Arrests 8 Thursday. July 18.2019 Arrest Totals LFelony Misdemeanor 10 I Total Arrests ` 10 Char • es Narcotics Nexus Prostitution Charles Narcotics Nexus Prostitution Thursday, August 22. 2019 Arrest Totals Charges Felony Narcotics Nexus Misdemeanor 6 Prostitution Total Arrests 6 Friday, September 27, 2019 Arrest Totals Felony Misdemeanor 11 Total Arrests 11 1 10 Charges _ Narcotics Nexus Prostitution 11 3 Submitted into the Tuesday. October 15, 2019 Arrest Totals Charges Felony f Narcotics Nexus Misdemeanor Prostitution Total Arrests 2020 Enforcement Activity: Pro -active measures were curtailed due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. 2021 Enforcement Activity: Operations: 1 Arrest Total: 7 Februar 18, 2021 Arrest Totals Felon) Misdemeanor Total Arrests 7 Charges Narcotics Nexus Prostitution TOTAL TASTE FORCE OPERATIONS AND ARREST 2018-YTI) Total Operations 15 Total Arrest Fe1om 6 Misdemeanor 120 Total Arrests 126 Char&es Narcotics Nexus Prostitution 8 125