THOMASVILLE — Responding to complaints about prostitution and drug activity in the Wall and Booker streets area, Thomasville Police Department increased patrols and discovered a sex act in progress during the weekend, according to a TPD incident report.

A few minutes before 7 p.m. Saturday, an officer saw a black Nissan parked behind an abandoned house at 116 Wall St. A man and woman were in the car.

“He rode up on them and found them in the act,” said Maj. Wade Glover, TPD public information officer.

The man in the car’s driver seat was Mack Copeland, 59, 401 Victoria Place. The female passenger was Ashley Ford, 29, 2005 E. Pinetree Blvd., the report states.

Copeland told police he had just met Ford and was giving her a ride, according to the report.

Ford told police she and Copeland were good friends, that she knew the owner of the property and had permission to be there, according to the report.

Ford, the report states, told the officer she had a crack pipe and crack-smoking paraphernalia in her bra. The suspect removed the items from her bra and handed them to the officer.

Ford is charged with prostitution and possession of drug-related object. She remained in the Thomas County Jail Monday in lieu of $1,100 bond.

Copeland, who is charged with criminal solicitation, was released from jail on bond.

Trash, used condoms and alcoholic beverage containers were scattered about in the yard of the abandoned house where the arrests were made.

Glover said increased police patrols of the area are an attempt to deter prostitution and drug activity. Undercover operations have been conducted in the area, he added.

The officer said some women turn to prostitution as a means to earn money to buy drugs. 

“The women become vulnerable to becoming victims,” Glover said. “They really put themselves in harm’s way.”

 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820