MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Madison Heights has been known as a hotbed of prostitution in hotels near 14 Mile and Stevenson. Police there are back in business with a Special Investigation Unit that was shut-down a decade ago during the recession and budget cuts.
Officers are now working several cases and made an arrest Tuesday night.
Police Chief Corey Haines tells 7 Action News, “Our special investigation unit that reopened in January investigated acts of prostitution we know is occurring at our hotels.”
Police called the number in an ad on a website called CityXguide.com. The sex ads are listed by city.
They were told to come to the Days Inn on 14 Mile Road and inside they found a 33-year-old woman from China.
They found her connected to the man they arrested. And with a search warrant police say they found paper and electronic records that have resulted in several charges against 33-year-old James Yun from Korea.
His charges include:
- Prostitution, accepting earnings
- Prostitution, transporting a person
Both are 20 year felonies
Additional charges include:
- Human Trafficking, forced labor
- Keeping a house of prostitution.
Chief Haines says they’ve met with hotel owners and operators and have asked them to be on the lookout for high traffic and if they see something say something.
“Some of the hotels are great, informing us, adding security to make hotels safer. Some are not,” the Chief said.
The case against James Yun will be in court on February 2th. He’s being held on a $250,000 bond.
The chief says they have several other cases pending. And the Special Investigations Unit will be working full time on these cases.
