Precinct Chief Among Those Arrested In Undercover Prostitution Sting Operation

An undercover prostitution sting operation is done on Wednesday resulted in the arrest of 14 suspects, including a precinct chief per reports.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office narrated how its Organized Crime Unit, in collaboration with the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA), executed the sting operation that led to the arrest of 14 individuals at a local hotel.

Among those arrested was Brian Harris of the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office. Solicitation of prostitution is a state jail felony. Harris is currently being held at the Montgomery County Jail after being relieved of his duties.

“We hold our deputies to the highest standard,” Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap said to Fox 26. “We are sending a message that we are not going to tolerate this activity in our community. We will arrest and charge those who engage in this illicit act,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a news release. “We will also continue to identify those who have been forced into trafficking by rescuing them from their situations and connecting them with services to help with their recovery.”

Harris was charged with solicitation of prostitution, which is a felony. His bond was set at $1,500.

According to KHOU, Harris was a veteran homicide detective with the Houston Police Department. He has been in law enforcement for over 30 years.

“Anybody who’s worked in the criminal justice system more than five minutes knows who he is and would be shocked by these charges," KHOU 11 legal analyst Carmen Roe shared.

“State jail time versus prison time is actually more serious because there’s no such thing as good time. So, if you’re sentenced to six months of state jail time, you will serve it day for day," Roe quipped. "You will not be released early.”

Harris has trained hundreds of officers both nationally and internationally while also teaching at the FBI academy. He is married with children and grandchildren.