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.
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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