Maryland Heights is a west-central suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri. Its population is approximately 27,000. Prostitution and sex trafficking activity in Maryland Heights and throughout the St. Louis County area have been well-documented. Among the tactics used to address prostitution and sex trafficking are those focused on consumer-level demand. For example, in June 2017, fourteen people were arrested during a web-based reverse sting operation conducted by the St. Louis County Police Multijurisdictional Human Trafficking Task Force and collaborating agencies. The target was consumer-level demand, specifically those seeking to purchase sex from potential human trafficking victims. The investigation concluded with the arrest of 14 people alleged to have tried to purchase sex from potential trafficking victims between June 19, 2017, and June 22, 2017, at various locations within St. Louis County and St. Charles County. The names, ages, and addresses of the 14 individuals were listed in news reports. Thirteen of those arrested were from the St. Louis area, one was from Michigan. In August 2021, the local portion of a multi-state sex trafficking sting led to the arrest of a police officer in Maryland Heights, who was charged with enticement of a minor.