Atlanta police are working on a project to combat prostitution in Midtown neighborhoods.
Neighbors complained to police that cross-dressing prostitutes are aggressive and have them afraid for their safety.
Midtown resident Graham Balch told Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri that prostitutes have confronted him on several occasions.
"I have experienced some who are very aggressive to me. Who swore at me, came after me," Balch said.
Balch said he sees two to six prostitutes every morning around 6:30 a.m. as he leaves his Myrtle Street home for work.
He said the prostitutes get upset with neighbors who want to push the activity away from their homes and young children.
On recent occasions, he said people who come to the neighborhood to solicit prostitution have gotten out of their cars and threatened him.
Balch said drug activity is one of his biggest safety concerns and pointed to a hypodermic needle and other drug paraphernalia behind his home.
Blach told Viteri his 4-year-old daughter has even picked things up.
"Her favorite color is pink. So she goes and runs and picks up these dime bags and says, 'Oh this is pretty. Can I have this Daddy?'" Balch said.
Atlanta Police Lt. Scott Kreher said officers are well aware of the problems in the Midtown area.
The vice unit commander told Viteri the department is working on a special project it hopes to roll out this summer.
"It's a little premature to talk about right now, but it is another tool that will help us fight this particular crime," Kreher said.
He said the prostitutes' aggressive behavior is usually retaliation to people who don't want them in the neighborhood.
Kreher said neighbors should never approach them, and instead should call 911.
Neighbors complained to police that cross-dressing prostitutes are aggressive and have them afraid for their safety.
Midtown resident Graham Balch told Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri that prostitutes have confronted him on several occasions.
"I have experienced some who are very aggressive to me. Who swore at me, came after me," Balch said.
Balch said he sees two to six prostitutes every morning around 6:30 a.m. as he leaves his Myrtle Street home for work.
He said the prostitutes get upset with neighbors who want to push the activity away from their homes and young children.
On recent occasions, he said people who come to the neighborhood to solicit prostitution have gotten out of their cars and threatened him.
Balch said drug activity is one of his biggest safety concerns and pointed to a hypodermic needle and other drug paraphernalia behind his home.
Blach told Viteri his 4-year-old daughter has even picked things up.
"Her favorite color is pink. So she goes and runs and picks up these dime bags and says, 'Oh this is pretty. Can I have this Daddy?'" Balch said.
Atlanta Police Lt. Scott Kreher said officers are well aware of the problems in the Midtown area.
The vice unit commander told Viteri the department is working on a special project it hopes to roll out this summer.
"It's a little premature to talk about right now, but it is another tool that will help us fight this particular crime," Kreher said.
He said the prostitutes' aggressive behavior is usually retaliation to people who don't want them in the neighborhood.
Kreher said neighbors should never approach them, and instead should call 911.
WSBTV
