Ellis Sidney Pope, 65, of Onalaska, sexual predator.
Young Officer Proves Her Mettle in Predator Sting Operation, ONALASKA, April 8, 2009 - On March 4, 2009 at approximately 12:30 pm, the Onalaska Police Department with cooperation of the Polk County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division initiated a sting operation on a suspect that had on one previous occasion solicited two females for sex in exchange for money. Corporal John Maddox with OPD was assigned the case and began an investigation into the incident. The subject had given the two females a cell phone number. Corporal Maddox had the District Attorneys office execute a subpoena on the phone records and the number came back to Ellis Sidney Pope, 65, of Onalaska. A warrant for Promotion of Prostitution (a Class "A" Misdemeanor) was issued by Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2, Judge David Johnson. Chief Ron Gilbert, Lieutenant Andy Lowrie, Officer Troy Binford and Officer Jessica Reese agreed on arrangements to contact Pope and set up a meeting place. Pope did speak with Officer Reese and a meeting place was pre-arranged. Pope became very evasive and contacted the Onalaska Police Department about a phone call he had received from Maddox. Pope was advised that he had been called but that the call placed was in error. A short time later Pope met with Officer Reese who had been pre-wired with listening and recording devices by the Narcotics Division of the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Officer Reese talked to Pope who then asked her to perform sexual acts on himself in exchange for money. Reese then gave the signal and officers converged on the scene and took Pope into custody. Do to the Outstanding work of Officer Troy Binford and Officer Jessica Reese, Pope was hauled into the Polk County Jail and charged with two counts of Promotion of Prostitution.
Special thanks to Onalaska Police Chief Ron Gilbert.
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