Police may target ‘johns'

Alleged prostitutes were arrested during a weekend undercover operation, but Brownsville Police Chief Carlos Garcia warned that the next target could be "johns."

"These kinds of operations will continue in the future," Garcia said.

For now, police officers arrested three men and two women for allegedly engaging in prostitution.

Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique said that the alleged female and transvestite prostitutes offered to sell their services to undercover officers posing as potential clients.

Police identified the suspects they arrested as:

--Dionicio Cervantes, 45, who allegedly waved an officer to a stop by calling him "guerito";

--Esmeralda Hinojosa Picazo, 33, who said she needed to buy diapers, according to police;

--Petra Betancourt, 42;

--Juan Antonio Garcia, 42, wearing a red dress with white fishnet pantyhose, police said;

--Roberto Carlos Hernandez, 28, wearing a blue dress, according to police.

Police records reflect that the alleged prostitutes were charging from $10 to $30 for oral sex. All five posted $500 bonds, Manrrique said.

A personnel shortage prevented a reverse sting operation, in which female officers pose as prostitutes, Garcia said.

In May, protestors decried the arrest of alleged prostitutes in Harlingen, noting that male customers should be the targets of police action, Herald archives reflect.