YORK COUNTY, S.C. — A fire official was arrested in a prostitution sting in York County.
Thomas Wayne Pickard, 52, was among seven people arrested during the undercover operations on Carowinds Boulevard.
Pickard is a volunteer fire chief at the Indian Land Fire Department. He’s also a full time lieutenant with Lancaster County Fire Rescue.
Investigators said the sting began around 2 p.m. on Thursday and lasted through midnight. Several agencies were involved including the York County Sheriff’s Office and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Authorities said four of the seven people arrested were so-called "Johns" trying to buy sex; three others were prostitutes.
Investigators told NBC Charlotte the investigation was an effort to crack down on human trafficking in the Charlotte area. The operation began after complaints about prostitution along Carowinds Boulevard.
Law enforcement said a local hotel cooperated by providing space for the operation. No cases of human trafficking were identified, according to investigators.
NBC Charlotte reached out to the Indian Land Volunteer Fire Department and Lancaster County Fire and Rescue, but neither department had any additional comment.
Pickard is currently on unpaid administrative leave pending a personnel investigation, according to Lancaster County Fire and Rescue.