A Dallas police officer was arrested Monday for soliciting prostitution, police said.
Senior Cpl. Zachary Helm, who has been with the department since 2006, worked for the Special Investigations Division, according to Dallas police. He faces a felony charge of solicitation of prostitution and has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation, according to a police news release.
It’s unclear if the leave is paid.
Undercover detectives were conducting a prostitution suppression operation on Monday at the La Quinta Inn and Suites on Walnut Hill Lane, according to Helm’s arrest warrant affidavit.
Detectives posted decoy commercial sex ads on websites known to facilitate prostitution and human trafficking, and received a response to an ad by phone from Helm, police said in the affidavit.
An undercover Homeland Security investigative agent spoke with Helm, who agreed to meet at the inn and pay $140 in exchange for sex. When Helm arrived at the inn, he was met by police officers, according to the affidavit.
Helm was arrested and booked into the Dallas County jail Monday on a charge of soliciting prostitution.
It’s unclear whether Helm, who was arrested by the Special Investigations Division, was aware of the prostitution suppression operation.
Police said no additional information will be released at this time.