4 Arrested In Sarasota Prostitution Sting

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota Police Department arrested four men during an undercover operation staged Thursday to crack down on prostitution in the city. A fifth man, however, fled custody and is now being sought on a number of charges.

The agency announced details of the prostitution sting on Monday. It was conducted on North Tamiami Trail within the city limits.

In addition to the arrests, police say they also seized one vehicle in the operation meant to target “Johns.”

Those arrested were:

• Charles Laver, 59, of Venice; solicitation of prostitution
• Justin Uffinger, 42, of Sarasota; solicitation of prostitution
• Rodney Aldrich, 67, of Dunellon; solicitation of prostitution
• Sandford Roth, 56, of Safford, Ariz.; solicitation of prostitution

Police say they are also looking for 29-year-old Thomas Maddox Jr. His last known address was in Venice. Maddox ran from officers, the agency wrote in an email to media. He now faces solicitation of prostitution, fleeing to elude, possession of cocaine and driving on a suspended license charges.

Photos of Laver, Uffinger, Aldrich and Roth courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department. No photo of Maddox was available.

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