UPDATE: East Ridge police held an 11 a.m. press conference at the Fire and Police Service Center to provide additional information about the dozen men caught up in a prostitution sting.
Nine of the 12 men were written misdemeanor citations for Patronizing Prostitution. Three others – Clint Austin Christensen, Brandon Moore and an Hispanic man who is suspected of being an illegal alien – were arrested and jailed. All 12 of the men will appear in East Ridge Municipal Court sometime in August, officials said.
Christensen, who authorities said is an emergency room doctor at Erlanger East Hospital, was additionally charged with being intoxicated. Assistant Chief Stan Allen also said Moore’s 7-series BMW was seized along with a quantity of Schedule IV drugs in his possession. He is facing an additional drug charge.
Chief Allen said that it is believed that Zachary Vick is a special education teacher at Heritage High School.
Authorities said that an East Ridge officer devised the ad to lure “Johns” to a motel in East Ridge. The ad, which ran for two days on a Website called “Back Page,” received more than 200 responses. Chief Allen said that the department had the full cooperation of the motel in carrying out this operation. Because East Ridge authorities do not want to damage the reputable, mainstream motel’s reputation, the name of the establishment was not released to the public.
ERPD Chief J.R. Reed said that he was very proud of his department’s efforts in conjunction with the other participating law enforcement agencies.
Officials said the investigation is continuing and could lead to much better insights into prostitution and human trafficking.
East Ridge police have arrested a dozen men charging them with Patronizing Prostitution.
According to a press release, on June 21 – 22, a joint operation was conducted by the East Ridge Police Department in cooperation with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, Chattanooga Police Department, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to combat human trafficking and prostitution complaints within the city of East Ridge.
The operation was conducted over a two-day period when online advertisements were posted and suspect “Johns” agreed to meet undercover female officers at a local hotel for sexual acts in exchange for cash. A total of 12 “Johns” were arrested and charged with the Patronizing of Prostitution within 1.5 miles of school.
Additionally, one “John” was charged with trafficking illegal prescription narcotics. The “Johns” arrested included a local school teacher, emergency room doctor, certified nursing assistant, commercial truck driver, and sales associate. A 2011 BMW 750 Li and loaded firearm were both seized during the course of the operation.
The following is a list of the names of the arrested subjects:
Brandon Joseph Moore of McDonald, TN (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School, Possession of Schedule VI Narcotics for Resale)
Rajendra Patel of Chamblee, GA (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
Marvin Dwight Davis Jr. of Chattanooga, TN (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
Michael James Schaffers of Seaford, DE (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
Clint Austin Christensen of Chattanooga, TN (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School, Public Intoxication)
Matthew Rooker of Chattanooga, TN (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
Daniel Eliseo Rojop Sontay of Chatttanooga, TN (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
Christopher P. Smith of Signal Mtn, TN (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
Benjamin Njogu of Mason City, IA (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
Nicholas P. Savastand of East Ridge, TN (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
James L. Cross of Ringgold, GA (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
Zachary Vick of Ringgold, GA (Patronizing Prostitution with 1.5 Miles of a School)
