Surrey Prostitution Sting | Video

Julie Leonardi | 11/30/2012

Prostitution is normally a crime found in big cities. But with the recent oil boom in Minot and Williston, crime has found its way to North Dakota.

“Right now there`s so much money to be made with the oil business and the jobs available. It brings the prostitution along with it, where girls can make up to five hundred dollars an hour,” said Surrey police chief Pete Schneider.

People that grew up in these areas are seeing a change for the worse. “There’s a lot more crime going on around, a lot more rough necks rolling around,” said Surrey resident Calvin Miller.

Schneider believes the bigger the population gets, the more crime our area will see. “With the influx of all the people, also brings prostitution, and drugs, and other stuff, along with it.”

Even smaller towns like Surrey, are seeing prostitution.

At 11:00 this morning Surrey police conducted a prostitution sting at the gas station. Jatira Denise Sanders, 40, was arrested for agreeing to exchange sex for money to an undercover police officer. She`s now being held at Ward County jail.

Miller said, “I think that`s crazy, I went to high school here and never thought this would happen, with a town of about 1,500 people.”

Schneider said, “A lot of people live here, and in Minot and they`re not used to the crime, we`ve been very busy this year with different calls I haven`t seen in my law enforcement career.”

Police will continue cracking down on those involved.

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