Houston Police Department

September 12, 2005 -- Houston police have arrested a suspect accused of promoting prostitution in a northwest side neighborhood.

The suspect, Michael Wayne Roquemore (b/m, DOB 8-28-53), is charged in the 338th State District Court with compelling prostitution.

HPD Juvenile Division Officer E.Y. Rodriguez of the Sex Crimes Unit reported:

About 7:20 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, a Houston police officer was in the process of obtaining identifications on two females in the 5800 block of 34th Street. At that time, suspect Roquemore drove up, had the two females get inside of his vehicle and then drove off. Roquemore was then pulled over on a traffic stop. At that time, one of the females, a 14-year-old, made an outcry that she had been working as a prostitute for Roquemore for the past week. Roquemore was taken into custody and transported to jail.

Vice Division investigators and agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted in the follow-up investigation. Vice investigators interviewed the adult female and juvenile investigators interviewed the younger girl. Both females were released without charges.

The Vice Division and FBI have been working together on an initiative entitled "Innocence Lost," aimed at obtaining intelligence and identifying those promoting prostitution in the city.

Anyone who has information relating to suspect Michael Roquemore is urged to contact the HPD Vice Division at 713-308-8600 or the department's Juvenile Sex Crimes Unit at 713-731-5335.

JFC/RMM 9-12-05
Inc #137630005

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.