Sarasota man arrested for soliciting sex and child neglect

An undercover operation by Sarasota police resulted in the Dec. 19 arrest of Bernard L. Rush Jr., 33, of Sarasota, for agreeing to secure prostitution, child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

During the operation, Rush offered $10 in exchange for oral sex. Rush said he planned to leave his 4-year-old child in the back seat of his car while he went to a hotel room.

Rush was driving on an expired license and in possession of a marijuana grinder at the time of his arrest.

At 4:33 p.m. Rush stopped in the area of 47th Street and North Tamiami Trail where he engaged in conversation with an undercover police officer. During the conversation, Rush offered the undercover detective $10 in exchange for “head,” according to a probable cause affidavit.

When the undercover officer asked what Rush would do with his child when he came to her room at the Flamingo Inn, he advised that he would leave the child in the vehicle. He was armed with both a pocket knife and a sword concealed as a walking cane.

Rush was arrested and booked at the Sarasota County Jail, and was released on bond.