Fake Online Ad Nets 4 Solicitation Arrests in Midwest City

News9.com

MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma – Three men and one woman have been arrested for being involved in responding to a bogus ad online that led to solicitation.

According to Midwest City police, a false ad was placed on the website www.backpage.com by both Midwest City and Oklahoma City police in a joint reverse sting operation that was used by an undercover police woman.

After the ad was placed, 58-year-old Thomas Ray Stemen, 24-year-old Jackson Brummell and 48-year-old Jeffery Burton all contacted the undercover police woman and made arrangements to meet her at a local hotel in Midwest City. All three were arrested after they each met with the undercover officer and offered to exchange sex for money.

Midwest City and Oklahoma City police officers were in an adjacent room monitoring with surveillance video and voice recordings.

The three men were booked into the Midwest City jail and were released on $829 bond for solicitation for illegal purposes. Brummell also posted an additional $834 bond for marijuana possession.

Officers also made contact with an escort listed in the personal ads on the same website. Officers arrested 19-year-old Tambra Johnson after she agreed to meet with an undercover officer at the same Midwest City hotel to exchange a sex act for money. Johnson was arrested for soliciting for illegal purposes.

Johnson was released on $829 bond.

"Many critics will say law enforcement has better things to do than use their resources towards this type of crime. Our position is that if you don't take care of the little things, then bigger problems will occur," said Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said. "I would think twice about answering any personal ads on popular websites, especially if you are going to meet in Midwest City because you never know—it might just be a police officer."