They met up to have sex, but instead wound up in cuffs

Four women and six men were picked up in a prostitution sting this weekend in the Tri-Cities.

The undercover operation by the Richland police Street Crimes Unit targeted both sides of the criminal activity: prostitute and customer.

Lt. Chris Lee with Richland said the intent is to look after the prostitutes and check if anybody is being trafficked.

“Some view prostitution as a victimless crime, and in all reality it’s not,” said Lee. “Sometimes those victims are being trafficked … and other times it brings along other criminal activities, like robberies or drugs.”

He added that just because it’s not readily seen doesn’t mean the activity isn’t regularly occurring.

Richland worked with Kennewick police and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office on the operation.

Unlike bigger cities where people may see a lot of street walking, Lee said, everything is done electronically in the Tri-Cities. Those seeking or offering services are posting on different online forums and social media sites.

He added that there is a circuit that runs from Spokane to Wenatchee to Seattle, down to Vancouver and Portland, and back east to the Tri-Cities.

Undercover officers are not allowed to participate in a sexual activity to confirm the crime. Here, it’s about “communication and securing what services were going to be provided,” then validating that with whoever shows up to the designated location, Lee said.

The men and women were held on suspicion of prostitution, a misdemeanor.

This story was originally published August 21, 2017 at 6:13 PM with the headline "They met up to have sex, but instead wound up in cuffs."