Pittsburgh Police Officer Charged In Prostitution Ring

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A Pittsburgh police officer is facing serious charges after being accused of running a prostitution ring.

He may also have a link to a girl that has been missing for months.

After months of investigating, charges were filed against Michael Johns.

Detectives believe Johns was running a prostitution ring and was involved with the purchase and transport of heroin.

Johns is also being linked to Alivia Kail, who has been missing since March.

During a routine traffic stop in April, police discovered a male driver and an admitted escort.

Police found a small piece of paper on a key ring, with Alivia's name in the pocket of the driver.

According to police, the car had been rented by Johns.

This sparked an intense investigation into Johns who told detectives he did not know Kail and had never met her.

During the investigation, police said they were able to link Johns to a prostitution ring.

According to police, Johns allegedly paid thousands of dollars to post online advertisements.

One advertisement said, "We provide erotic entertainment and more than just stripping."

He also allegedly gave an escort cell phones to promote her services.

Johns is also accused of taking two escorts to buy heroin on multiple occasions.

The escorts told police that Johns kept needles at his apartment and he liked to watch them get high.

Johns was arrested following a heroin bust, in which he was driving a taxi.

He had allegedly taken two confidential informants on a drug run and 19 bags of heroin were recovered.