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Police Navidad Undercover Sting

Dec 9, 2025

Overview

  • Article: "They came looking for sex. They found deputies instead in 'Police Navidad' sting."
  • Source: News4SanAntonio, by Yami Virgin, Paul Sanchez, Natalie Medina.
  • Published: Dec 4, 2025; Updated: Dec 6, 2025.
  • Location: Austin Highway corridor, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
  • Topic: Undercover prostitution sting focusing on solicitation, trafficking, and related crimes.

Operation Details

  • Name: Police Navidad.
  • Lead agency: Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
  • Setting: Broad daylight undercover operations along Austin Highway.
  • Tactics: Undercover female deputies positioned in plain view; nearby command center monitored approaches and offers.
  • Timing: Operations concentrated around midday/lunch hour, identified as peak solicitation time.
  • Visibility goal: High-profile presence intended to deter future criminal activity.

Arrests And Related Actions

  • Types of arrests made during operations:
    • Solicitation (alleged "Johns").
    • Suspects in mail theft.
    • Individuals wanted on felony warrants.
  • Example incident: A man attempting to board a VIA bus was arrested moments after walking away.
  • Past related operations:
    • Operation Unlucky Strike (July): 30 arrests.
    • Operation Street Sweep (recent week): 11 arrests tied to solicitation and related crimes.

Objectives And Rationale

  • Primary goals:
    • Disrupt solicitation activity and reduce criminal activity in corridor.
    • Protect women vulnerable to exploitation, addiction, and trafficking.
  • Sheriff Javier Salazar's emphasis:
    • Many purchasers are U.S. citizens who may not see harm, but their actions support human trafficking.
    • Success measured by reduced criminal activity and increased neighborhood safety, not just arrest counts.
  • Community context:
    • Corridor mixes upscale neighborhoods with areas attracting criminal activity.
    • Concern for public safety, including children walking to school.

Operational Notes And Details

  • Safety measures for undercovers: Deputies removed wedding rings; a sergeant stored rings for undercover female deputies.
  • Monitoring: Command center documented who approached undercovers and what offers were made.
  • Common outcomes: Stings often uncover additional, unrelated crimes (theft, outstanding warrants).

Decisions

  • Continued use of visible, daytime undercover operations along Austin Highway to deter solicitation and associated crimes.
  • Focus on both arrests and protective interventions for exploited individuals.