In two hours, three arrested for prostitution in Cedar Rapids

Police arrested three men for prostitution in about two hours during a sting operation Friday afternoon in Cedar Rapids.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said a female employee of the police department was out walking in southeast Cedar Rapids and was approached by all three men independently.

David L. Staab, 69, of 1829 Ridgeview Ct. in Bertram, drove up alongside the police employee around noon near the corner of Bever Avenue and 16th Street SE, and eventually offered her $40 for oral sex, police said.

About 90 minutes later, the police employee was in the 1200 block of Second Ave. SE when she was approached on foot by Serafin Perez-Montoya, 50, of 1300 Oakland Rd. NE. Police said Perez-Montoya offered her $20 for oral sex.

Around 2 p.m., Michael Edward, 43, of 1507 Fifth Ave. SE, drove up to the police employee as she was walking near the corner of Fourth Avenue and 14th Street SE. Police said he offered her $50 in exchange for oral sex.

Hamblin said the sting was in response to complaints from residents in the area, who she said have takena “no tolerance” approach. She said the people who act as prostitutes are not usually dressed provocatively.

“They're not dressed in short dresses or like you see on ‘Pretty Woman,'” Hamblin said. “They are in normal clothing.”

All three men were taken to the Linn County Jail. When they arrived, Perez-Montoya was determined to be an undocumented immigrant and notification was made to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, police said.