Prostitution Sting Nets Councilman Tacoma Democrat Arrested At Motel With Sheriff’s Decoy

A Pierce County councilman was arrested on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute during a sting by the sheriff’s office.

Wendell Brown was cited and released after his arrest Wednesday at the Rose Garden Motel in Ponders, an area near Lakewood known as a prostitution mecca.

Brown declined to comment on the events leading up to his arrest.

“I talked to an attorney (Wednesday),” Brown said. “He told me not to comment until actually we get all the facts on this thing.

“Obviously, this is not a kind of situation that you want to go through. Like I said, when all the facts come forward, I think that this misunderstanding that presently exists will … be cleared up.”

Brown, a South Tacoma Democrat who narrowly lost the race for Pierce County executive last fall, has held elective office since 1978.

According to a sheriff’s report, Brown was in his personal car while parked alongside Pacific Highway S.W. outside the motel. A deputy, who was the decoy, talked to Brown through his open window. She reported that Brown asked her to get into his car.

The decoy said she told Brown she didn’t do “car dates.” She said Brown then asked her, “Well, how much?” She said she told him $20 for oral sex and $40 for intercourse. The decoy said Brown answered, “OK.”

Brown followed her into the motel parking lot with his car then hesitated, the decoy said. According to her, Brown said “I don’t really do this.” They exchanged goodbyes and the decoy walked into the motel room where other deputies were waiting. She told them Brown had left and walked back outside, only to find him waiting. He followed her to the room and was arrested.

A deputy reported Brown’s wallet contained no cash. Brown said he was just “seeing what she was up to.”