A Polk County prostitution sting resulted in the arrest of at least 20 people Tuesday. 

Of the 20 arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, five were taken to jail. The sting took place from noon to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Those not arrested were given a citation release with a court date, The Des Moines Register reported.

The Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force conducted the operation Tuesday after business owners had continuously complained of suspicious activity around local motels, said Sgt. Brandon Bracelin, spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. 

Bracelin said the sting was one of several operations that will be conducted throughout the year by the task force. 

Though Bracelin said he was not given specific information on this operation so as not to compromise the investigation or future operations, he said prostitution stings usually work where officers use a hotel room, play a role and are asked for sex. 

Bracelin said the operations could be related to human trafficking.

Arrested:

Scott Lockwood, 51, Altoona

Jeff Curnes, 49, Urbandale

Enrique Escalante, 35, Johnston

Nathan Miltenberger, 35, Des Moines

Artem Yelfimov, 23, West Des Moines

Tommy Birch, 31, Des Moines, who is a Register reporter and Iowa State alum who covers Cyclone football.

Christopher Mead, 30, Waukee

Terry Gibson, 54, Dallas Center

David Greenspon, 58, West Des Moines

Ray Dyer, 58, Des Moines

Jeffrey Pershel, 55, Des Moines

Edgar Mosqueda-Meza, 30, Des Moines

Kevin Lane, 27, Phoenix, Ariz.

Daniel Clark, 57, Des Moines

Timothy Tracy, 53, Des Moines

David Tibbetts , 42, Urbandale

Hunter McNeeley, 20, Indianola

Sasha Cook, 28, Des Moines

Two others arrested could not be identified or verified by the Polk County Sheriff’s office.