Itasca police make prostitution arrest

Editor's note: The case against Monica Randazzo has been expunged.

Itasca police made their second arrest for prostitution this winter after an investigation led them to a suspect operating out of an area hotel, authorities said.

Police said they arrested Amber Watson, 24, of 11536 W. Oak St. in Lena, at 11:20 a.m. Thursday. Officials said she was charged with keeping a place of prostitution at a hotel on the 1100 block of North Rohlwing Road and was wanted on a warrant from a downstate police department.

Detectives discovered Watson by scanning Internet sites that allow users to solicit for illegal services, police said.

"We use all investigative tools available to use for any type of crime, we don't narrow it down to any one," Itasca Deputy Chief Bob O'Connor said. "If this case turned out to be a prostitution matter, other times it could turn out to be a narcotics arrest."

Last month an investigation aided by the Internet led police to another prostitution suspect operating out of a hotel on the 400 block of Park Boulevard. Officers arrested Monica Randazzo, 36, of 534 Kathy Lane, Bartlett, and she later was charged with disorderly conduct and keeping a place of prostitution.

O'Connor said continued police efforts to monitor illegal activities and swift action help lower crime levels in the village.

"Our tools often lead us to elements that will not be tolerated in Itasca," he said.