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Wednesday, August 5, 2009
News Another Craigslist rape
Posted By Cheris Hodges on Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Internet dating from Craigslist is starting to look like a horrible idea.
The Charlotte Observer is reporting that a New Jersey man is facing charges in the Queen City for raping a woman in a local hotel.
Kyle Mayfield, who has a Burlington, N.J., address, was arrested by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police on Saturday. Police say the 34-year-old met two victims at Charlotte motels, identified himself as a law enforcement officer, then sexually assaulted the women.He was arrested Saturday at a motel on Equipment Drive near Interstate 85 and Sugar Creek Road.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say 13 robberies and five sexual assaults since September were related to ads for sexual services on Web sites such as Craigslist, Backpage, Eros and Sip Sap.
“They're very bold. They're very graphic,” CMPD Vice and Narcotics Capt. Mike Adams said of the ads. “And it's easy for women to post their ads there.”
Here's a suggestion to people answering and placing those ads on Craigslist: don't. While I'm sure there are hundreds, even thousands of ads that are answered every day without a robbery or a rape taking place, it is too much of a risk. And if you're waiting for CMPD or any police force to save you -- good luck.
In June, officers began an investigation to crack down on Internet-based escorts working in Charlotte and to get information on suspects who prey on women who solicit on those sites. Police said many of the reported crimes took place in hotels and motels along the Interstate 77 corridor, though officers didn't identify any central locations. Officers say they have made 24 arrests during the crackdown of prostitutes and clients. Most were prostitutes.
Police seem too happy to capture prostitutes while the johns get off scott-free for the most part. But haven't we noticed that it's not the women placing those ads who are doing the killing, raping and robbing?
So, what's the solution to Craigslist victimization? More policy limiting erotic service ads? Common sense by people placing and answering ads? Closing down the web site?
Who knows, but it doesn't seem as police are stopping anything they're just coming in after the fact and playing clean up.
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