MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Mobile Police arrested 21 people during an undercover prostitution sting Tuesday.

Major John Barber with Mobile Police says the department targeted all areas of the city, but 12 of those 21 arrests happened right across the street from the office of the second precinct in Tillmans Corner.

“We find what comes a lot with prostitution is drug activity. Also with that, we find that violent crime accompanies both those different activities so we address it from the root today on the prostitution side,” said Barber.

He says the operations are done several times a year but, “not often enough.”

The operation involved both male and female officers.

First, undercover male officers went out on the street to find men and women trying to sell sex. Two arrests were made during that portion of the operation Tuesday.

Then four undercover female officers went out on street corners. Within minutes of stepping outside, they were approached by men offering money for a variety of sex acts.

News 5 approached the men to ask them why they were being arrested.

We received a variety of answers from, “she needed a ride,” to, “just out for a good time,” or, “just being stupid.”

All of the charges filed against the 21 people arrested Tuesday are misdemeanors.