11 Men Charged In Prostitution Sting In Hillsborough County

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Eleven men are behind bars after they solicited sex from undercover detectives at parks in an initiative called "Operation Park Cleanup," the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

The operation took place at two parks: Sun City Heritage Park in Ruskin and Sydney Dover Conservation Park in Dover.

Authorities said they chose these locations because they are known to deputies as places where men meet for sex.

Police said the men arrested, who range from 37 to 76, believed undercover detectives were there to engage in sexual acts with them. In some incidents, authorities allege those arrested would wait in their parked cars, follow and approach an undercover detective, then solicit them for sex.

Others would wait for undercover detectives on the trails, in broad daylight, before engaging in conversation and later either exhibiting or soliciting lewd acts, investigators said.

"The vile acts these men committed were done in the same public places our children go to for outdoor recreation," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "I want to commend the work of our undercover detectives during 'Operation Park Cleanup' to get these men off of our Hillsborough County streets. Parks are meant for all us to enjoy, and these men made it their personal playground for deviant activity and that will not be tolerated on my watch."

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said all 11 men were charged with entering/remaining in place for prostitution, lewdness or assignation.