8 Arrested In Aurora Prostitution Sting

SEATTLE

Seattle police arrested 25 men and one woman during a prostitution sting operation yesterday in the 9600 block of Aurora Avenue North.

Most of those arrested will be charged with patronizing a prostitute, said Lt. Allan Lorette, who supervised the sting. One man will be charged with promoting prostitution - a felony - for trying to persuade two of the police decoys to work for him, Lorette said. Several others will be charged with loitering.

Four female officers posed as prostitutes in the sting. Eleven other officers waited on the street and in a nearby motel room to make arrests after they were signaled by the decoys with an electronic device or gesture that they had been approached for sex.

Those arrested, who range in age from the early 20s to 71, were booked into the King County Jail last night. Some may be arraigned this morning.

The woman was arrested on an indecent-exposure charge for engaging in a sex act in public, Lorette said.