Prostitution Sting nets 31 arrests, including Baptist minister

April 18, 2009

A four-day prostitution sting by Alexandria Police Narcotics agents ended
with 31 arrests -- one of whom is pastor, also serving as a middle school
teacher and coach. And two women were arrested two different times and
charged with prostitution during the sting.

Among those arrested was Reverend Melvin Jackson, 49, of Ville Platte. the
minister at Little Rock Baptist Church in Bunkie. Rev. Jackson is also
employed by the Avoyelles Parish School Board as a coach and physical
education teacher at Bunkie Middle School, but was on a medical sabbatical
this school year, Avoyelles Schools Superintendent Dewayne Lemoine said.
Last year, he was the football and basketball coach.

"At this point we are going to look into it before we react," Lemoine said.

Calls to both the church and to Rev. Jackson's home went unanswered.

The two phase operation was done April 9, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
during both the day and evening hours. It was led by Alexandria's

Bobb said operations like Clean and Sweep Sting and John-John Sweep are
important because it not only reduces solicitation - which involves public
health concerns, traffic issues with cars slowing to make a deal and
harassment with many complaining that these women are making sexual gestures
on the public streets -- but it also limits narcotics traffic as many of the
transactions involve drugs.

"We are trying to make the streets a cleaner, safer place for our citizens,"
Bobb said. "This kind of operation will continue."

http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20090418/NEWS01/904180351/1002




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