However, drive down 19th Street near Avenue Q on any given day and Lubbock police say you can spot prostitution. NewsChannel 11 begins an in-depth look at prostitution in the Hub City as we ride along with Lubbock police while they attempt to curb the illegal business.
As the sun slowly dips below the Lubbock skyline, police sergeants Nathan Anderson and Kelley Pirkle assemble their team. On this evening, Anderson and Pirkle lead a reverse prostitution sting.
Their target is not the sellers, rather their customers commonly known as "johns". While Anderson and Pirkle set up a command unit, several teams of officers spread out through this neighborhood known for prostitution.
For this sting, two undercover female officers will take turns working the streets near 19th and Avenue Q. From the command vehicle Anderson and Pirkle watch the undercover officer both for safety and to see if a john comes her way. That way it's just a one-way transmitter that we can hear what's being said out there," Anderson said. Initially business starts out slow, as the undercover officer wearing jeans and a camouflage t-shirt walks back and forth along two blocks.
Anderson says where you find prostitution you also find drugs, something he says is now more prevalent in this area since the cleanup of North Overton began.
