Tampa Firefighter, 3 Others Accused of Soliciting Prostitutes
He solicited sexual acts while in his duty uniform, Hillsborough deputies said.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A Tampa firefighter was one of four men arrested Wednesday (April 3) during a sting operation targeting men who solicit prostitutes, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
Arrested were Brian Hartzler, 46; Jawuan Shaquille Hicks, 55; Lucio Martinez, 44; and Curtis Antoinne Hargrove, 30. All were charged with one count of Soliciting Another to Commit Prostitution.
Hartzler is firefighter with Tampa Fire Rescue and was in his duty uniform at the time of his arrest, deputies said. Deputies characterized Hargrove as a “career criminal.”
Deputies said the four men were arrested during a sheriff’s operation targeting “Johns” who were soliciting the services of prostitutes in the University Community area of Tampa. During the course of the investigation, a total of 17 men engaged with undercover detectives.
The “arrests were just one prong in a multi-faceted approach at combating human trafficking,” Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “By attacking prostitution head on, we are trying to take away the financial incentive behind trafficking and hopefully it sends a message to others that this won’t be tolerated in Hillsborough County.”
Main photo shows Brian Hartzler.
Hillsborough Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Tampabay News
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