CPD: 22 men busted in online prostitution investigation
By Warren Stocker
Published: May. 7, 2016 at 1:48 AM EDT|Updated: May. 9, 2016 at 2:19 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The Columbia Police Department has announced the arrest of 22 men after a two-day prostitution investigation regarding an online advertising website backpage.com.
According to a statement from Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook, members of CPD's Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit and members of Metro and North Region's Community Response Team conducted the investigation May 3rd and 4th across Columbia.
The chief says the majority of the suspects are married with jobs that include construction workers, internet technician, a carpenter and a café manager. A few of the men on the list, according to Holbrook, are unemployed.
RELATED: See photos of the men who were charged.
All of the suspects have been taken to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
Chief Holbrook says CPD will continue to investigate social media being used as a tool to engage in illegal acts such as prostitution.