SENECA — Narcotics and vice officers from the Seneca Police Department are in the midst of a prostitution sting that has already netted five arrests during operations Monday and Tuesday, Maj. John Covington said Wednesday.

“On Monday and Tuesday, we conducted a prostitution sting using an undercover female officer,” Covington said. “That culminated in the arrest of five individuals for solicitation of prostitution when they attempted to solicit sex in exchange for money.”

The first to fall in the sting was William Fitzgerald Price of Seneca on Monday, who was also cited for resisting arrest and had to be subdued with pepper spray. Tuesday saw the apprehension of four offenders.

Ruben Cruz of Seneca and Martin Pena of Walhalla were arrested, as well as two men from different cities who, by what Covington called a “freak coincidence,” shared the same name. Billy Ray Roach of Seneca and Billy Ray Roach of Walhalla were both arrested Tuesday in the sting. All accused were taken to Oconee County Detention Center.

Covington said the sting, which is a common operation for the Seneca Police, will continue for an undisclosed period of time.

“We conduct these stings routinely,” Covington said. “A lot of times we do them after drug sweeps. Usually after a big sweep, drug activity comes to somewhat of a lull, so that is usually when our officers run the vice aspects of their job and focus on the prostitution.”

Last month, Seneca police conducted a drug sweep seeking 39 individuals on roughly 100 warrants. Covington said all but two or three suspects have been apprehended.

“Those individuals have probably fled the city, but they’ll be brought to justice,” Covington said. “They are now in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), so they are wanted individuals.”

The NCIC is a computerized database of information relating to criminal behavior, which includes missing persons, stolen property, criminal records and wanted fugitives. It is available to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across the nation.