Pike County, MS
Categories:
Tactics Used |
|
---|---|
Auto Seizure | ✓ |
Buyer Arrests | ✓ |
Cameras | ✓ |
Community Service | ✓ |
Employment Loss | ✓ |
Identity Disclosure | ✓ |
IT Based Tactics | ✓ |
John School | ✓ |
Letters | ✓ |
License Suspension | ✓ |
Neighborhood Action | ✓ |
Public Education | ✓ |
Reverse Stings | ✓ |
SOAP Orders | ✓ |
Web Stings | ✓ |
Pike County is a county located on the southwestern border of Mississippi, and has a population of approximately 40,000. The county seat is the city of Magnolia. Prostitution activity has been well-documented within the county, and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to law enforcement agencies. Among the more serious crimes associated with the local commercial sex market is sex trafficking. For example, in 2003, a local man employed as a Summit police officer was indicted following his alleged involvement in a sex trafficking ring exploiting teenage girls.
Consumer level demand provides the revenue stream for all prostitution and sex trafficking, and has therefore been targeted by local law enforcement agencies as a strategy for prevention and response. Demand reduction tactics used within the county include reverse stings, other sex buyer arrests, and the disclosure of sex buyer identities. For example, in April, 2022, ten men were arrested during a prostitution sting in Pike County. Undercover deputies posted prostitution ads online, and arrested the men when they appeared at an arranged location to complete the transactions, they were arrested. The Pike County Sheriff’s Office posted photos of the men along with other identifying information. Pike County sheriff’s officials worked with the Mississippi Attorney General’s human trafficking unit to organized the sting after ongoing investigations uncovered that there was a marked increase in local prostitution. In December, 2022, six men were charged with procuring prostitution in Pike County. Their mugshots and names were publicly disclosed, and a $500 bond was set for each of the arrested men.
Key Partners
- Pike County Sheriff’s Office
Key Sources
Reverse Stings, Identity Disclosure:
- https://www.enterprise-journal.com/sheriff-prostitution-more-rampant-thought (2022)
- https://www.enterprise-journal.com/sheriff-10-men-snared-sting(2022)
- https://www.wjtv.com/ten-charged-in-pike-county-prostitution-sting/ (2022)
- https://www.magnoliastatelive.com/mississippi-sheriff-releases-photos-of-men-arrested-in-prostitution-sting/ (2022)
- https://www.wlbt.com/authorities-release-photos-men-arrested-during-pike-county-prostitutions-sting/ (2022)
- https://www.wlbt.com/multiple-men-charged-pike-county-prostitution-case/ (2022)
- https://www.wjtv.com/six-charged-in-pike-county-prostitution-sting/ (2022)
- https://www.cbs42.com/6-arrested-following-prostitution-sting-in-mississippi/ (2022)
Background on Local Sex Trafficking and Prostitution, Related Violence and Other Crime:
- https://dailyjournalonline.com/duo-charged-with-prostitution (2018)
- https://www.wdam.com/former-police-officer-charged-with-murder-after-shooting-pike-co/ (2019)
- https://www.clarionledger.com/former-cop-charged-murder-body-found-vehicle-shot-pike-county/ (2019)
- https://www.wjtv.com/gregory-robinson-former-police-officer-is-charged-with-murder (2019)
- https://www.wapt.com/pike-county-human-trafficking-investigation-leads-to-arrests (2021)
State | Mississippi |
Type | County |
Population | 39973 |
Location |
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