Fighting prostitution in neighborhoods

DOWN THE HILL. THE TRUCK DRIVER WASN'T HURT. >>> PROSTITUTION, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SPAS THAT ARE HAVENS FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT PLAGUE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE INNER CITY TO THE SUBURBS. CHANNEL 2 INVESTIGATES IS TRACKING PROSTITUTION ARRESTS ACROSS THE HOUSTON AREA. OUR INVESTIGATOR ROBERT ARNOLD IS REVEALING WHICH AREAS ARE THE MOST PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM AND HOW POLICE ARE NOW TAKING A NEW APPROACH TO CRACKING DOWN ON IT. ♪♪ >> Reporter: ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, PROSTITUTION IS FOUND ON CITY STREETS AND IN SUBURBAN STRIP MALL SPAS. >> THE BABY WIPES AND THE REMAINING CONDOMS THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. >> Reporter: IN HOUSTON POLICE MADE NEARLY 3500 PROSTITUTION-RELATED ARRESTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. WHILE NO PART OF TOWN IS IMMUNE, SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HIT PARTICULARLY HARD BY PROSTITUTION IN THE OTHER CRIMES THAT FOLLOW LIKE DRUGS, ROBBERY, AND VIOLENCE. >> IT'S JUST AN INCREASE IN CRIME. >> Reporter: BY FAR THE NUMBER ONE SPOT FOR PROSTITUTION ARRESTS IS HERE. A STRETCH BETWEEN THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY AND THE BELTWAY. POLICE CALL IT A RED LIGHT DISTRICT. 589 ARRESTS FOR PROSTITUTION ALONG BISSONNET IN TWO YEARS. AND THAT NUMBER DOESN'T INCLUDE THE SIDESTREETS. JUST OFF BISSONNET, POLICE MADE CLOSE TO 100 MORE ARRESTS ON PLAINFIELD, COUNTRY CLIQUE, AND CLUB CREEK. WILL THEY USE YOUR PARKING LOT FOR SEX? >> OH, YES, ALL THE TIME. >> Reporter: THIS WOMAN RUNS A BUSINESS ON BISSONNET. SHE DIDN'T WANT HER FACE SHOWN BECAUSE CONSTANT CALLS TO POLICE EARNED A PAIR OF GUNSHOTS THREE HER FRONT WINDOWS. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INSIDE THE GULF FREEWAY WAS HOME TO 222 PROSTITUTION ARRESTS IN TWO YEARS. SIGNS SHOW RESIDENTS' FRUSTRATION. MULTIPLE STRETCHES OF THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY ADD UP TO ANOTHER 196 ARRESTS. ON THE NORTH SIDE, NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND AIRLINE AND 45 SAW 178 ARRESTS. THE TWO THINGS THESE AREAS HAVE IN COMMON, EASY FREEWAY ACCESS AND PLENTY OF MOTELS. >> IF WE ARREST ONE PROSTITUTE, THE NEXT DAY SHE'S BACK ON THE STREET OR WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE TAKING HER SPOT. >> Reporter: JAMES DALE SAYS THAT'S WHY POLICE ARE CHANGING THEIR APPROACH. ALONG WITH THE WITH THE ARRESTS, THERE'S ALSO NOW A LIFELINE. >> BRING THEM IN. WE CAN OFFER THEM THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED. >> Reporter: THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND PORTS LOOK FOR SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THEY OFFER ALTERNATIVES TO JAIL. >> THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY TO THOSE LADIES IS YOU ARE KILLING YOURSELF ON A DAILY BASIS. >> Reporter: THIS FORMER PROSTITUTE SAYS THE THREAT OF ARREST ISN'T ENOUGH. IT TOOK 10 YEARS' WORDS OF TRIPS TO JAIL -- WORTH OF TRIPS TO JAIL AND PRISON BEFORE SHE DECIDED THERE WAS A BETTER WAY. >> I REMEMBER THE PERSON I WAS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO EVER GO BACK TO THAT. >> Reporter: BUT HOUSTON ISN'T 'LOAN IN THIS FIGHT. HARRIS COUNTY LOGGED 446 ARRESTS SINCE 2016. IN THE COUNTY PROSTITUTION LEANS MORE TOWARD STRIP CENTER SPAS THAN STREET CORNERS. THAT'S SOMETHING FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF SAW WHEN HE GOT CALLS ABOUT A SUSPICIOUS SPA ON HIGHWAY 6. >> I HAVE TO COMPLIMENT THE RESIDENTS OF FORT BEND COUNTY BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BE VERY NOSEY. >> Reporter: CASES WERE MADE AGAINST THE TWO LADIES WORKING HERE AND HE CALLED THE LANDLORD TO ASK IF THERE WAS A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY CLAUSE IN THE LEASE. >> I WANT YOU TO REVOKE THE LEASE AND CANCEL THE LEASE. AND SHE SAID ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: LIKE WITH THIS SPA, NEL'S CREDITS CALLS FOR NOSY NEIGHBORS WITH HIS OFFICE ONLY SEEING 34 PROSTITUTION ARRESTS IN TWO YEARS. >> I THINK MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS REALIZE YOU'RE BETTER OFF STAYING OUT OF FORT BEND COUNTY. >> Reporter: UNDER THE THE INVESTIGATES SECTION OF CLICK2HOUSTON.COM, WE'VE GOT A MAP SHOWING YOU THE TOP AREAS FOR PROSTITUTION. WE'VE GOT A DATE BECAUSE FOR YOU WHERE YOU CAN SEARCH THE STREETS AROUND WHERE YOU WORK TO SEE IF PROSTITUTION IS BECOMING A

Channel: KPRC 2 Click2Houston

Views: 2,963,044

Keywords: channel 2 investigates, texas, Harris County, harris county, houston area, Investigates, robert arnold, houston prostitutes, prostitute, prostitution hot spots

Id: I-qZ8w3t47E

Length: 3min 54sec (234 seconds)

Published: Fri Apr 06 2018