Search for missing juvenile leads to sex sting at Station Square

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police arrested three people Friday in a sting to break up a suspected sex ring at Station Square.

According to Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE, the investigation began when police were alerted to a runaway who may have been working in the sex trade.

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TribLIVE reported that detectives called the numbers listed in a "Sweet Candy" ad on the "Pittsburgh Backpage" website.

According to court papers, police agreed to meet Aquarius Melinda Stewart, 21, of Troy Hill at Station Square where she offered to perform sex acts for $350. Stewart was arrested and charged with prostitution.

TribLIVE reported that she agreed to help police by luring Tiara Copps, 22, to Station Square, where she was arrested and also charged with prostitution.

Authorities arrested the women’s alleged pimp, Mario “Digga” Grisom, on the South Side and charged him with promoting prostitution. According to police paperwork, Grisom said the women gave him $10 to place the online ads and that the three shared any money they made.

The Parry Hotel on West 7th Avenue in Homestead was one of the places where ring members often met their customers.

“I threw them out. Yeah, I changed the locks and everything. I don’t want that happening here,” Dave Shelpman, the owner of Parry Hotel, told Channel 11 News.

Pittsburgh police detectives also said the ring rented rooms at Sunrise Inn in Monroeville.

Copps and Grisom face preliminary hearings later this month.

Meanwhile, investigators said they are still searching for the missing juvenile.

WPXI