PERRYSBURG — The prostitution sting earlier this week in the U.S. 20 corridor is the first for Patrick
Jones in his new role as police chief — but likely not the last.
“I had been a part of others when I was a detective, but his is the first one since I’ve been chief. It’s
something we want to get ahead of,” Jones said.
The Perrysburg Police Division, along with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal
Investigation, the Toledo Police Department and the FBI, conducted the undercover operation Tuesday.
Over a dozen people were arrested at the Econo Lodge, 10667 Fremont Pike.
“It was a pretty straightforward operation,” Jones said. “We had undercover agents posing as prostitutes
or Johns.”
The operation focus was on prostitution, but there were also drug-related crimes and possibly other
charges.
“Then there are the other charges. There was one guy, out of Findlay, who had cocaine, ecstasy and
Percocet,” Jones said. “With prostitution they are not always doing it on their own. Often there are
pimps bringing them to the hotel and that’s still an on-going part of the investigation.”
The operation was set up on the internet with individuals meeting at pre-arranged locations within the
city.
“There are a lot of different internet sites and apps they are using – Backpage is the most well known,
before it was shut down,” Jones said. “This was a single operation we had planned. That was just in an
eight-hour period and we were able to get 14 individuals.”
Backpage was an internet based classified advertising company based in New York that was shut down in
April 2018 because of the adult services section after a U.S. Senate investigation.
The Perrysburg Police Division made 12 arrests for prostitution at the Econo Lodge between 2:31 p.m. and
9:05 p.m. Tuesday.
As a result of this operation, the following individuals were charged with prostitution: Gianna
Rodriguez, Robin Nelson, Keonna Hudson, Ravin Jackson, Lisa Kuch, Tina Gee, Jessica Harris, Marisela
Vasquez, Miesha Ratcliff and Mary Hunt, all of Toledo, and Rebecca Roberts, Findlay.
Brian Orth, Genoa, and Kevin Lewis, Fremont, were each charged with solicitation.
Thomas Johnson, Findlay, was arrested for possession of cocaine, ecstasy and Percocet.
Additional charges may be filed against others based on further investigation by detectives.