A number of men, many in business suits and ties, have been arrested this week for engaging in public, homosexual acts along a specific stretch of the Jordan River Parkway in South Salt Lake and West Valley City.
"The traffic is pretty heavy at lunch times and after work around 6 or 7," South Salt Lake police officer Darin Sweeten said.The "traffic" in the area of Oxbow Park, 1115 W. 3300 South, consists of men who walk along the parkway seeking other interested parties willing to move into the brush a few feet off the paved path.
Tuesday police made nine arrests in the area. The day before they had seven busts. All of the men arrested were cited with misdemeanor lewdness or gross lewdness. Prior to appearing in court, all of those cited will be required to report to the county health department to undergo AIDS tests, Sweeten said.
Police have also discovered hazardous material like discarded contraceptives and used needles in nearby shrubbery. One arrested man told police he had an advanced-stage case of AIDS.
"A lot of these men have wives and kids at home," Sweeten said. "Who knows what they could be bringing home to their families."
Police were alerted to the problem about three weeks ago when neighborhood business owners wondered why their parking lots became flooded with cars during lunchtime or after normal business hours.
As investigators examined the situation, they discovered two Web sites that indicated the parkway was a place for public sex.
South Salt Lake officers enlisted the help of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah. Paula Wolfe, executive director of the center, said it has been difficult for the gay community to help because most of the offenders don't consider themselves homosexual.
"They are not openly gay but view themselves as straight men who happen to have sex with other men," Wolfe said. "They (have homosexual relations) now and again and tend to go to venues where they will be less visible."
Wolfe said the community center has been working with police to get the word out about the potential for disease in these types of public encounters.
Sweeten agreed that the health risk is the main concern and noted that the hazardous material and activity occurs just a few feet from where children ride bikes and jogging mothers push strollers up and down the parkway.
Police will continue to patrol the area heavily in the coming weeks, but Sweeten and Wolfe hope the warning of serious health risk will be heeded and result in a more permanent solution to the problem.