Dubbed Operation Trick or Treat, the Weldon Police Department on Wednesday and Friday conducted an undercover operation to stem complaints of prostitution that include the area traditionally known as South Weldon and areas in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the town, Chief Mark Macon said this afternoon.

Arrests in the operation included three for soliciting prostitution and two for trying to procure the services of hookers.

One person was arrested on an outstanding warrant for communicating threats unrelated to the sting.

“We've been following up on complaints for a while in South Weldon and some just outside the city limits on Carolina Avenue and County Road. It spills into the city limits. We have them standing in the highway soliciting,” Macon said.

Macon believes most of the prostitution in town is done for drug money.

In a statement, Macon said, “The Weldon Police Department will continue to follow up on complaints and arrest those who choose to prostitute or solicit prostitution. The operation was a success due to extensive planning and preparation.”

In the first phase of the operation Wednesday, the police department and undercover agents worked to pick up women soliciting prostitution. In the second phase Friday the police department did reverse stings, using a female undercover officer to arrest those seeking prostitutes and also arrested the one alleged male prostitute.

Arrested Wednesday were:

Bundy

Sherri King Bundy, 45, of 1409 Elm Street, Weldon, for felony solicit prostitution. She was given a $500 secured bond and a court date of December 11.

Barkley

Elizabeth Nichole Barkley, 29, of 205 Summit Avenue, Roanoke Rapids, for felony solicit prostitution. She was given a $500 secured bond. She and the others, except the one charged on the outstanding warrant, have the same court date as Bundy.

On Friday, the following were arrested:

Hardy

Reginald Hardy, 27, of 10220 Hwy 305 Jackson, who was charged with misdemeanor solicit prostitution. Macon said Hardy allegedly dresses up like a woman to solicit customers. He had a bag with a wig and what Macon described as other female paraphernalia with him at the time of his arrest and occasionally dresses as a woman.

Underdue

Calvin Eugene Underdue, 59, of 1100 Allen Street, Weldon, and Earl Lewis Shearin, 54, of 758 Aurelian Springs Road, Roanoke Rapids, were both charged with misdemeanor solicit prostitution.

Shearin

They allegedly tried to negotiate the services of an undercover officer.

Ponton

Omar Daquan Ponton, 20, of 922 Corbit Drive, Weldon, was charged on outstanding order for arrest for communicating threats. He received a $1,000 secured bond and has a November 5 court date.