Kingsport Police Bust 12 For Prostitution And Indecent Exposure
(Top left to right) Althea Gumm, Laurie Edinger, Shelly Gregg, Tasha Tranbarger and Kathy Herceg
(Bottom Left to right) Joseph Jarber, Doug Cavitt, Robert Necessary, Brian O’Connor and Tony Fugate
A press release from The Kingsport Police Department said the Vice Squad made 14 arrests. Investigators added they arrested some of the prostitution suspects multiple times.
A reverse sting by police, using an undercover female operative, led to the arrests of four men. The charge against them: soliciting prostitution.
During the most recent reverse sting, police said Brian O’Connor requested sexual favors from a female undercover operative. Investigators said upon making payment, an undercover male Vice Agent tried to remove O’Connor from his vehicle and arrest him. Police said O’Connor hit the gas and tried to get away from them. Investigators said the Vice Agent trying to arrest O’Connor was dragged by O’Connor’s vehicle and thrown into a parking lot.
During the four month operation, detectives also watched for activity at the public bathrooms on Netherland Inn Road. Police said they arrested Tony Fugate there and charged him with indecent exposure.
The following is a list of the suspects arrested during the four month investigation and the charges they face:
Althea Gumm / 2 counts prostitution
Laurie Edinger / prostitution
Shelly Gregg / prostitution
Tasha Tranbarger / 4 counts prostitution
Kathy Herceg / prostitution
Joseph Jarber / soliciting prostitution
Doug Cavitt / soliciting prostitution & possession of marijuana
Robert Necessary / soliciting prostitution
Brian O’Connor / soliciting prostitution, evading arrest, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment
Tony Fugate / indecent exposure
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Reader Reactions
I agree with frustratedone. I am from Abingdon and you couldnot pay me to move back there. The Washington County Va. Sheriff’s Dept needs alot of improvement starting with a new SHERIFF that will let the officers do their jobs. It is not just the drug problem, alot of the problems that happens there are not let out of bag by the so called sheriff. When the officers try to do the right thing for families but some airheads will not allow it.All I can say is I am a proud citizen of Washington County TN and not Washington county va.
What kind of vermin would actually pay money to be with one of those skanks?
EWWWWWW!
I wouldn’t do one of them if they paid me.
the women were arrested for ‘price gouging’ and the men were taken in for walking without a brain….
I’ts good to know at least one police department in the area has it’s act together and good can be reported from it’s activities. Abingdon PD and Washington County, VA could stand to bring in some Kingsport PD members to help with the drug problems in Abingdon
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