In 2019, after receiving complaints from community members about local establishments being operated as houses of prostitution and possible human trafficking, the Flagstaff Police Department (FPD) conducted an undercover operation to investigate the complaints in cooperation with the Coconino County Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
In each case, the undercover officer requested and paid for only a massage. Sexual contact was initiated by the person providing the massage and the contact was terminated by the undercover officer once it was determined to be overtly sexual in nature. The undercover officer did not participate in any sexual acts.
The officers carried out their duties lawfully in consultation with FPD’s partner agencies, resulting in the Court issuing fifteen arrest warrants and eight search warrants. There have been claims made that the officers’ actions were illegal; however, this is not correct.
As these cases are still being prosecuted, no further comment will be provided.
