Griffith said that officers involved in such stings tend to be young and that anecdotal posts on his site indicate the local arrest rates increase around the time of elections or when media attention focuses on the issue.īecause much of the signaling is itself benign behavior, some gay rights activists and lawyers have admonished police departments for arresting men who have done little more than tap their feet. 'Citizens have a right not to confront lewd activity in public places,' said Steve Sanders, a lawyer and gay rights activist. 'But if there is evidence that a sting is motivated by anti-gay animus, that may represent a more troubling issue.'Īt trial, Sanders said, police would have to prove that actions such as foot tapping were known signals for soliciting sex. 'What constitutes probable cause to arrest someone? If a case like this went to trial, police officers would have to produce evidence to say here is how we can say with certainty this is was really a lewd act,' he said.Ĭraig pleaded guilty to the charges and therefore opted against a trial.
Today, Craig denied being gay and said he made a mistake by pleading guilty. Police officers, for the most part, only investigate an area after members of the public have complained about it being used for sex, said Rich Gregson, executive director of the California Peace Officers Association.
