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3 men arrested in prostitution sting
By ED RUNYAN
WARREN
Police fired the opening shot in their grant-funded war on prostitution and drug-dealing in the area just north and east of Courthouse Square early Easter morning, arresting three “johns” in an undercover sting.
The department had about five officers — one of them posing as a prostitute — in the area of Belmont Street and Mercer Avenue Northeast from 11 p.m. Saturday until 3 a.m. Sunday.
The officers arrested all three “johns” between 1:17 a.m. and 1:35 a.m., according to police reports. Each was taken to Trumbull County Jail.
Two of the three appeared in Warren Municipal Court Monday morning. Pleading innocent to misdemeanor solicitation were Randolph N. Lucik, 47, of Warren; and Terrance A. Warren, 26, of Warren. They return to court at 10:15 a.m. May 4. They were released after posting $1,000 bond.
Richard E. Robinson, 30, of Bristolville, also is charged with solicitation but did not appear for his arraignment.
If convicted, each faces up to six months in jail.
Capt. Joe Marhulik, the police department’s coordinator for the city’s federal Weed and Seed grant, said the area was selected as the first target location because it is among the busiest areas for prostitution.
He said the department’s work will continue in the near-northeast area, as well as all over the southwest part of the city.
The city qualified last fall for a $100,000 federal grant for 2010 that will enable the police department to weed out problems in the city and for the police department and others to seed opportunities for residents.
Marhulik said he believes such efforts eventually will reduce prostitution in the neighborhood. The court costs, fines, towing fees and other costs associated with being convicted of solicitation likely will be about $700 per person, he said.
Atty. Frank Bodor, president of Take Back the Neighborhood, a neighborhood-watch group operating in the near-northeast area, said he is “elated” that the police took action.
“It’s something we’ve been asking for seven years,” Bodor said. “We look forward to more sting operations and sting operations on drugs.”
Bodor and others have complained to the city that prostitution and drug dealing have led to the perception that the neighborhood surrounding Washington Street and North Park Avenue has become unsafe.
If people see the neighborhood as unsafe, they will not rent or buy homes there, even though there are some “majestic, roomy homes,” Bodor said.
Once the public sees the area safe and clean, people will return to the area to live, he said. With nearby attractions such as the Riverwalk and amphitheater, “there’s no reason this shouldn’t be a beautiful area,” he added.