IRVING, Texas - In an early morning operation targeting demand for commercial sex, Irving Police Department Vice Unit officers arrested a 40-year-old man accused of attempting to solicit prostitution at a local motel.
According to police, an undercover investigator placed an alias escort advertisement on a website known for illegal solicitation of sexual services as part of a human trafficking demand suppression investigation in Irving, TX. The investigator was soon contacted by a potential customer who inquired about pricing and services.
Through text messages, the individual agreed to pay $210 for 30 minutes of unprotected sex. The undercover officer arranged to meet the man at the Red Roof Inn located at 4110 W. Airport Freeway and provided a specific room number.
Shortly after, at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4, the suspect arrived at the motel and knocked on the designated door. As soon as the door opened, four officers moved in, took the man into custody without incident, and identified him as Derek Christopher Britain, 40, of Melissa, Texas.
During the arrest, Britain reportedly denied any knowledge of the pre-arranged meeting. However, officers sent a text message to the same phone number used in the earlier conversation. A notification immediately appeared on the screen of the phone in Britain’s possession, confirming he was the individual who had arranged the encounter.
Britain was transported to the Irving Jail and booked on a charge of Solicitation of Prostitution, a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law.
Irving Police officials emphasized that operations like this one are part of a deliberate strategy to target “johns”—the buyers of sex—rather than focusing solely on sellers. By reducing demand, the department aims to make commercial sex less profitable, disrupt organized criminal networks involved in prostitution and human trafficking, and protect individuals who may be coerced or exploited.
“Every time we remove a buyer from the equation, we shrink the market that traffickers and pimps rely on,” a department spokesperson said. “These demand-focused operations also respond to concerns from Irving residents about public safety and quality-of-life issues tied to prostitution activity in our community.”
The Irving Police Vice Unit continues to conduct similar undercover operations throughout the city as part of its ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and related crimes.
