VALDOSTA — Prostitution and pimping led to the arrest of three people earlier this week, and authorities said the arrests are indicative of a growing problem in the county.

At approximately 7 p.m. Tuesday, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division investigators set up a sting operation “to meet a female for the purpose of prostitution,” according to sheriff’s office reports.

They said the woman arrived at a 2000 block West Hill Avenue location. The sting occurred. She began struggling with investigators when they arrested her, according to reports.

Two people — a man and a second woman — accompanied the first woman. The man reportedly attempted to run away. The man and the second woman were also arrested, according to the LCSO.

Marijuana and methamphetamine were recovered during the arrest, according to reports. The meth was packaged.

Demetrius Williams, 38, of Moultrie is charged with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, obstruction of an officer and pimping, according to the LCSO.

Ada Joyce Slaughter, 31, of Moultrie is charged with possession of marijuana and pimping, according to LCSO.

Tomron Rana Folsom, 24, of Moultrie is charged with prostitution and obstruction of an officer, according to LCSO.

Folsom, Slaughter and Williams were taken to the Lowndes County Jail and were scheduled to appear in the Lowndes County Magistrate Court for an arraignment Wednesday afternoon.

“These arrests are part of our continued effort to combat the increasing problem of prostitution and illegal drugs that are often possessed by the prostitutes and Johns,” Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine said in a statement.

LCSO Capt. Stryde Jones said prostitution is an increasing problem throughout Lowndes County. As with this case, prostitution is often connected with the use and sale of drugs.

“Prostitution is just a symptom of the dug issue,” Jones said.

There is no particular “red light district” for prostitution in Lowndes County, Jones said. In many cases, he said, the people charged with prostitution are from places outside of the county but travel to Lowndes to meet with prospective clients.