FREEPORT
Freeport police say an undercover “John” operation at a hotel in Freeport on Thursday resulted in the arrests of 11 people charged with engaging a prostitute.
Members of the Freeport Police Department, working in conjunction with representatives from neighboring police agencies, conducted the operation at a hotel on Route 1.
The purpose of such an operation is to target customers or “Johns” of prostitutes because prostitution is a demand/supply business. Without the demand, the supply may decrease, Freeport police say.
“It is also known that many area prostitutes are addicted to drugs and/or being trafficked in some manner,” a press release states. “Potential customers should be aware that police departments in the Greater Portland area are actively targeting them, and they will be arrested if they violate the Engaging a Prostitute statute. Engaging in Prostitution and Engaging a Prostitute are both crimes according to Maine law.”
Other participating agencies included the Yarmouth Police Department, South Portland Police Department, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, Gorham Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Windham Police Department, and members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
The operation was short in duration, according to police, “yet the following individuals were arrested when it was determined that there was probable cause to believe that they agreed to provide US currency in exchange for a sex act with an undercover police officer.”
The following individuals were arrested during the operation:
William Policano, age 28 from Windham, Maine
Baron Rogers, age 60 from Hampton Virginia
Leonard Merrill, age 60 from Durham Maine
Peter Light, age 47 from South Portland Maine
Christopher Lavalley, age 31 from Lisbon Falls Maine
Milan Simanic, age 31 from Portland Maine
Brian Jones, age 48 from Augusta Maine
Gerard Bowes, age 53 from West Poland Maine
John Verreault, age 55 from Saco Maine
Claude Cotnoir, age 59 from Oxford Maine
Hady El Ahmar, age 42 from Berwick Maine
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less