Springdale Police Chief Kevin Cornett has announced the arrest of 15 people.

The arrests occurred during a weekend operation targeting illegal activities at specific locations in the Town of Springdale.

After seeing an increase in criminal activity in Springdale the department conducted a prostitution operation. During the operation several people were arrested for prostitution related charges, narcotics related charges, and a gun charge.

“We do operations like this to accomplish a few goals,” said Cornett. “First, we do this because there are people being forced to participate in prostitution when they truly don’t want to. We want to find those people who are being victimized and we want to help them get out of that situation for good. Second, it is obvious through the gun and drug charges that were made this weekend that there are other dangers associated with prostitution. And third, we want people seeking to become involved in criminal activity to think twice when they are looking at Springdale, because you may be making a deal that will land you behind bars.”

Some of the individuals that were arrested attempted to pay prostitution services using illegal narcotics, according a release from the SPD.
Charges include attempting to engage in prostitution, solicitation of prostitution, unlawful carry of a firearm, distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of marijuana, distribution of schedule 2 narcotics, distribution of crack cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of schedule 2 narcotic, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and false information to police. One individual also had outstanding warrants from another agency.
All of the individuals charged are innocent until proven guilty.

PHOTO: Springdale Police Chief Kevin Cornett