At first glance, Darren Bates is a local success: an Omaha paramedic, president of the Omaha Firefighters Union, a Council Bluffs city councilman, small business owner, husband and father of two young girls.
But now the 42 year old faces a misdemeanor charge for solicitation of a prostitute. People in Council Bluffs are still absorbing the news. Police say Bates was caught yesterday in a reverse prostitution sting were a police officer posed as a prostitute at a Council Bluffs hotel, after making contact through Craig's List.
Bates is now on paid administrative leave from the Omaha Fire Department, where he's a captain. Mayor Mike Fahey's office says an internal review will be done to see if Bates should be punished or fired.
As for his elected position on the Council Bluffs city council Bates can't be removed from the council even if he were convicted of the misdemeanor. People in Council Bluffs tell us it shouldn't come to that, calling for Bates to step down on his own. Bates' term on the council is up this November. We're told he planned to run again. Our calls to Bates were not returned. A total of six men were cited in yesterday's prostitution sting.
That includes Daniel Lynch of Glenwood, Iowa. The Riverside School District confirms Lynch is a high school social studies teacher as well as a baseball and basketball coach. Lynch has been placed on leave while the district investigates. Dennis Martin of Murray, Nebraska was also arrested in the sting. Martin is the president of the Conestoga School Board. Tue, 25 Feb GMT Story Infinite Scroll - News3 v1. Hurricane Tracker. Now Mon Tue Wed, February 4th at AM.
