Operation Sizzle: Mechanic caught in the middle of deputies' prostitution sting

LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. (WPEC) — A business owner in Florida got a front row seat when sheriff's deputies cracked down on sex crimes in his neighborhood. The undercover prostitution sting he witnessed was called "Operation Sizzle."

Vinny Davis, owner of Bob Davis Auto Repair in Lake Worth Beach, said Friday was a normal day when he opened his shop. That lasted until undercover cops started filling up his parking lot.

“They don’t let us know," Davis told WPEC. "They just show up in unmarked cars.”

He said he watched one guy after another, apparently soliciting an undercover cop for sex and getting themselves an overnight stay in jail. A total of nine men were arrested.

The undercover girls were in the van, and I’m sure with a couple cops as well,” Davis said, describing the scene.

“The right words were in exchange, or she would walk away, and then eight cop cars would be on the guy,” Davis added.

Davis has owned his auto repair shop for 20 years and he told WPEC he’s happy to see somebody doing something to clean up the neighborhood.

“The alleyways are the biggest thing," he explained. "If your business has an alleyway behind it, then that’s probably where they’re going to be walking around.”

The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office set up the sting because locals complained. They want to know about any other sketchy behavior going on in neighborhoods.