WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The case against a woman cited for
prostitution in March 2012 has been dismissed.
Lauren Crocker was cited for solicitation of prostitution
during an undercover Vice and Narcotics sting for the Wilmington Police
Department.
Court records show Crocker's case had been continued several
times in the past year before it was dismissed last week.
Two other
women were cited for prostitution during the operation, but both of those
cases have since been voided. Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous said he
knows why the cases were void, but could not disclose that information.
An internal investigation into the officers involved in the
undercover sting stated they acted outside
of acceptable standards for the use of alcohol, but did not break any
laws.
The investigation revealed several departmental violations, including
consuming too much alcohol and not properly documenting cash transactions.
The investigation also revealed a video camera used during
the operation has since been reported missing, possibly stolen by a WPD
Officer.
The internal investigation was open until the end of
February 2013 and has led to an SBI investigation into the situation.
District Attorney Ben David has already said that his office
is reviewing every pending court case involving three WPD officers that were
disciplined as a result of the operation.
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