Shreveport Police Department

www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Feb. 2, 2001

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

Joint reverse sting operation nets 14 arrests

Fourteen people were arrested for narcotics and/or prostitution during a 12-hour, joint reverse sting operation that took place Thursday at the Levingston Motel on Pete Harris Street.

Police officers posed as drug dealers and prostitutes, offering drugs or sex to willing buyers.

"The Levingston Motel in the 400 block of Pete Harris and the area surrounding the motel has become one of the most popular and well-known street sale locations within the city," said Police Sgt. Michael Laing.

"Prostitutes and the lowest level street dealers flag traffic on Pete Harris, Sprague, Fannin and Travis Streets," he added. "They negotiate a deal and then go to Levingston Motel to consummate the transaction."

The Shreveport Police Department Narcotics Unit has made several arrests at that location in the past year. The fourteen arrests included six arrests for soliciting persons for immoral purposes, six for possession of Schedule II narcotics, one for possession of Schedule II narcotics and having outstanding warrants and one for interfering with police investigations.

Those working on the operation included the Narcotics Unit at the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, the National Guard Counter Drug Task Force and the SPD’s Vice Unit, Intelligence Unit, Property Bureau and Patrol Bureau.

Police Chief Jim Roberts haled the operation, and said efforts such as this could lead to a decrease in not only prostitution and drug dealing, but also persons robberies.

Oftentimes, people who participate in these illegal activities are robbed of their money or they make false claims of being robbed.

"This type of illegal enterprise is a source of violence and is a threat to the well-being and safety of the law-abiding citizens that live in the area," Laing said.

Those arrested Thursday and the charges they face are:

Randall Powell, 40, of Summerfield, Texas, possession of Sch. II.

Steven Presson, 42, of 6800 Raspberry Lane, solicitation for immoral purposes.

Arthur Taylor, 38, 1677 Kelsey, possession of Sch. II.

John Blackwell, 35, 501 Colquitt, possession of Sch. II.

Wallace Armstrong, 37, 2944 DeSoto, possession of Sch. II.

John Wilkerson, 46, of Elm Grove., possession of Sch. II.

Jimmy Patterson, 49, of Jefferson, solicitation for immoral purposes.

Craig Livingston, 38, of 1620 Fullerton Blvd., solicitation for immoral purposes.

Breanne Caldwel, (female) 23, 216 Yarborough in Bossier City, interfering with police investigations.

Stafford King, 41, of 414 Iroquois, possession of Sch. II.

Cleveland Cain, 45, of Haughton, solicitation for immoral purposes.

Scott Bailey, 27, of Stonewall, solicitation for immoral purposes.

Van Monroe, 46, of 521 Joanne in Bossier City, possession of Sch. II.

Allen Johnson, 47, of 1734 Arlington, solicitation for immoral purposes.

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