Fall River City Councilor Brian Bigelow snagged in sex sting‎

FALL RIVER —

City Councilor Brian Bigelow was among 23 people arrested during a prostitution sting operation conducted by police Friday night and early Saturday.

Bigelow, 49, of 1367 Robeson St., is charged with offering to engage in sex for a fee after he allegedly approached a female police officer who was working undercover as a prostitute in the area of 26 Morgan St.

A conviction on the misdemeanor carries a fine and up to six months in jail.

Reached at his home, Bigelow said he could not say anything about his arrest.

“Basically, I cannot comment,” he said. He indicated that he is in the process of retaining legal counsel.

Asked if he planned on resigning from City Council, he responded emphatically.

“No, I am not resigning. No, no, no, not at all. That's a strong no,” he said.

The operation was organized by police after Mayor Will Flanagan received numerous prostitution activity complaints when he held neighborhood tours after taking office.

“The purpose of Operation John was to crack down on prostitution in our neighborhoods,” Flanagan said.

“John” is the street name for men who proposition prostitutes by offering them money or drugs for sex.

“We wanted to put a chilling effect on the johns soliciting prostitution. The johns are fueling this crime occurring on our streets. By putting a chilling effect on the johns and the money supply, we put a reduction on the prostitution on our streets.”

The mayor had no comment specifically regarding Bigelow's arrest, but said all the defendants will be “referred to the district attorney for prosecution.”

All are set to be arraigned Monday in District Court.

Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Gauvin said Bigelow was arrested Saturday about 1:15 a.m. in the area of Morgan and Ridge streets.

“Apparently, a proposition was made to the female officer, who gave a pre-arranged signal, and he was stopped by a marked cruiser,” Gauvin said. “He was arrested without incident.”

Bigelow also is Fall River's representative on the Diman Regional School Committee.

“My first thoughts are with him and his family,” said Chairman Karl Hetzler. “Brian will have his day in court. Hopefully, he will be found innocent of these charges.”

Hetzler said Bigelow's status on the Diman committee is something to be discussed between Bigelow and Flanagan, as the mayor is the appointing authority of the Fall River member on the board.

Hetzler said he was shocked by Bigelow's arrest.

“I'm in shock. It's just shocking,” he said.

“As a school committee member ... he brought a lot of experience from working on the Fall River School Committee,” Hetzler said.

“He truly cares about the welfare and benefit of the students.”

Bigelow is employed as an auditor in the management accountability program of Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson's office.

“He's been here for well over five years,” Hodgson said.

“Obviously, any time we have a member of our department arrested it's disappointing,” he said.

“We'll have to wait to see how the matter is to be adjudicated,” he noted. “But the news of any member of our agency being arrested is disappointing.”
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