11 Men Looking for Hookers on N 1st St Busted by Yakima Police

Eleven men who were allegedly either looking for or seeking to pay hookers in North Yakima on North First Street were busted in a prostitution emphasis by the Yakima Police Department last week.

Yakima Police Said This Was a Prostitution Emphasis, Not a Sting

This was not a police "sting", rather, it was a coordinated patrol. A media notice on the department's Facebook page states these apprehended suspects were between the ages of 37 and 69 years-old. YPD detectives worked in collaboration with the police department with undercover agents.

The 11 Suspects Now Face Potential State Misdemeanor Charges

Each of them will continue to be investigated by YPD for potential criminal misdemeanor charges of loitering for prostitution and/or patronizing a prostitute. These charges are considered offenses against public decency and morality in the city of Yakima's municipal code under Title 6.

No arrest shall be made for a violation of this section unless the arresting officer first affords such person an opportunity to explain such conduct, and no one shall be convicted of violating this section if it appears at trial that the explanation given was true and disclosed a lawful purpose. - Yakima Municipal Code Title 6.55.110

It is also a misdemeanor to patronize a prostitute (pay for or make arrangements to pay) under Washington State law, so the men who were arrested could face fines up to $1,000 and the possibility of up to 90 days in the county jail.

The police department says their investigations could lead to referral to the Yakima County Prosecutor's Office.