Bensalem Township, PA
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 | ✓ |
Bensalem Township is a township of approximately 61,000 residents, located in Bucks County in southeastern Pennsylvania. Prostitution and child sex trafficking are well-documented problems in the community and surrounding area, with activity frequently concentrated in and around the township’s many hotels and motels along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Since 2012, local law enforcement have reported at least three distinct cases of child sex trafficking in the township. Media outlets have also noted the discovery of small children present during sex trade transactions during local prostitution stings, and at least one individual was convicted of torturing and murdering a woman involved in prostitution (brought from nearby Philadelphia‘s Kensington Avenue) and an “exotic dancer” in Bensalem.
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. For example, in May 2012, officers from the Bensalem Township Police Department, acting on reports of a missing teenage girl, arrested a Philadelphia police officer in a local motel. He was charged with solicitation of prostitution, aggravated indecent assault without consent, and unlawful sexual contact with a minor. His name and a photo were released to the media. a prostitution sting in a Bensalem hotel room on prostitution charges.
Key Sources
Sex Buyer Arrests, Identity Disclosure:
- “Philly Cop Facing Sex Rap with Girl, 14,” Philadelphia Daily News, May 3 2012.
- “Phila. Cop Accused of Sex with Teen,” Doylestown Intelligencer, May 4 2012.
- “Philadelphia Cop Headed to Trial in Sexual Assault of Teen in a Bensalem Motel,” Bucks County Courier Times, December 13 2012.
- “Former Phila. Police Officer Guilty of Sexual Assault,” Philadelphia Inquirer, June 19 2013.
- http://6abc.com/news/3-arrested-in-bensalem-prostitution-sting (2016)
Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:
- “Haverford Man Busted on Hooker Rap,” Philadelphia Daily News, August 9 1997.
- “Man, 64, Nabbed in Sex Sting,” Delaware County Daily Times, August 12 1997.
- “Philly Cop Facing Sex Rap with Girl, 14,” Philadelphia Daily News, May 3 2012.
- “Phila. Cop Accused of Sex with Teen,” Doylestown Intelligencer, May 4 2012.
- “Alleged Pimp to Stand Trial,” Bucks County Courier Times, June 28 2012.
- “Alleged Philadelphia Pimp Facing Rape Charges,” Bucks County Courier Times, October 3 2012.
- “Woman Says Pimp Sexually Assaulted Her,” Doylestown Intelligencer, November 16 2012.
- “Philadelphia Cop Headed to Trial in Sexual Assault of Teen in a Bensalem Motel,” Bucks County Courier Times, December 13 2012.
- “At Pimp’s Sentencing, Judge Urges More Awareness of Prostitution,” Bucks County Courier Times, June 12 2013.
- “Pimp Gets 16 to 40 Years in State Prison,” Doylestown Intelligencer, June 12 2013.
- “Former Phila. Police Officer Guilty of Sexual Assault,” Philadelphia Inquirer, June 19 2013.
- “Alleged Pimp Arrested at Bensalem Police Station,” Bucks County Courier Times, September 13 2013.
- “Bucks County Convicts Enoch Smith of Rape, Promoting Prostitution,” Bucks County Courier Times, October 28 2013.
- “Man Pleads Guilty to Pimping 16-Year-Old at Bensalem Motel,” Doylestown Intelligencer, March 2 2014.
- “Police Say Man Prostituted Teens,” Bucks County Courier Times, April 10 2014.
- “Bucks Police: Pimp Charged with Human-Trafficking,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 11 2014.
- “Man Faces Trial for Allegedly Prostituting Teens,” Bucks County Courier Times, September 4 2014.
- “A Look at Recent Sex-Trafficking Cases in Bucks County,” Bucks County Courier Times, September 28 2014.
- “Sex Traffickers Often Target Troubled Local Teens,” Bucks County Courier Times, September 28 2014.
Child Endangerment:
- “Woman Charged with Endangering Son,” Bucks County Courier Times, April 21 2009.
- “No Jail Time for Prostitute Mom,” Doylestown Intelligencer, August 4 2009.
Documented Violence against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Area:
- “Strip Club Regular Charged in Killings; Dancer Is One of Two Slain,” Ocala Star-Banner, June 25 1994.
- “Suspect in Murder of Exotic Dancer, Prostitute Was Obsessed, Police Say,” Beaver County Times, July 28 1994.
- “Man Admits to Killing Dancer, Prostitute,” Washington Observer-Reporter, November 11 1994.
- “Man Jailed on Promoting Prostitution, Assault Charges,” Doylestown Intelligencer, September 27 2015.
- “Prostitution Investigation Leads to Police Pursuit in Bensalem,” CBS/KYW-TV 3, January 29 2016.
Background on Prostitution in the Area:
- “Two Women Face Prostitution Charges,” Bucks County Courier Times, November 21 2002.
- “Police Call on Motel Owners in Crime Fight; Drug Trafficking, Prostitution and Car Theft Were Cited. The Numbers of Hotels Is Growing,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 10 2005.
- “BENSALEM; Five Arrested in Prostitution Sting,” Bucks County Courier Times, June 15 2006.
- “BENSALEM; Cops: Sex for Sale on Craigslist,” Bucks County Courier Times, September 7 2006.
- “BENSALEM; Police Arrest 6 in Internet Sting,” Bucks County Courier Times, November 1 2007.
- “Police Arrest Six Women,” Bucks County Courier Times, November 2 2007.
- “Woman Charged with Prostitution,” Bucks County Courier Times, March 26 2009.
- “Sex for Phillies World Tickets Trial to Begin,” Bucks County Courier Times, March 24 2010.
- “Police Lead off in Sex-for-Tickets Case, Prosecution Goes to Bat,” Bucks County Courier Times, March 25 2010.
- “Police Bust Drug, Prostitution Enterprise,” Bucks County Courier Times, August 19 2010.
- “Women Charged with Prostitution,” Bucks County Courier Times, December 3 2010.
- “Woman Cleared of Prostitution Charge for Trying to Get Phillies Tickets,” Philadelphia Inquirer, December 21 2011.
- “Man Charged with Running Prostitution Ring at Hotel,” Bucks County Courier Times, July 2 2014.
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Type | City |
| Population | 60622 |
| Location |
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