CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A new website is providing what the Adult sections on Craigslist.com and Backpage.com used to before they were shut down. According to investigators, SkipTheGames.com has become a haven for sex and crimes, including human trafficking. Clarksville police are using the website to combat crime in their area.
“We post an ad with a telephone number like all the other ads have,” said an agent with Clarksville Police. He works undercover so News 2 is not using his name or showing his face. “The individuals contact the listed phone number and they are given a location where the undercover officer is and they’re taken into custody,” the agent told News 2.
In just four days, Clarksville police arrested 13 people and charged them with crimes ranging from prostitution to a felon in possession of a weapon. Clarksville investigators say they have arrested would-be clientele from all walks of life. They also use every hotel in the area to attract the clientele and sex workers.
“We have a working partnership with the hotels and motels,” said the agent. “They appreciate us deterring that type of clientele from their business.” The agent said the goal is to cut down on prostitution and other crimes associated with prostitution, including assaults, carjackings and human trafficking.
In 2017, Clarksville police saved a victim of sex trafficking. Investigators believe other victims may be in Clarksville and the surrounding areas. They also believe many sex workers need help, too.
“Some do it because they were shown this is the only thing they can do,” the agent said. “There’s sexual assault victims that turn to this. There’s drug addicts that turn to this to feed their addiction.”
Clarksville PD reports a decline in prostitution since they began their sting operations.