Arcata Police Department press release:

On 08/15/2013, officers from the Arcata Police Department conducted a prostitution sting operation in the Valley West area.

Prostitution has become a problem for Valley West motels and the Arcata Police Department has received requests to assist with abatement.

Prostitution has brought a variety of criminal activity into our community. Armed robberies and weapon possession cases have been attributed to prostitutes and suspected pimps at our local motels. The Arcata Police Department has also seen a correlation between traveling prostitutes and the trafficking of controlled substances such as large quantities of marijuana as well as heroin and methamphetamine.

During the operation undercover officers contacted prostitutes who were using the internet to advertise. A meeting was arraigned and when the prostitutes solicited the officer, they were arrested.

Patrice Weems, 23 of Eureka and Ashley Winfrey, 22 of Eureka were both arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of 647(b) PC, Prostitution.