Rochester police arrested six men Thursday during a prostitution enforcement detail in the Lyell Avenue corridor, charging each with third-degree patronizing a person for prostitution, a class A misdemeanor. Authorities identified one of the defendants as Gerald Pickering, 68, of Victor, a name that matches the former Webster police chief who led that department from 2001 to 2015 and later served as a director of public safety at the University of Rochester.
Who was charged
Rochester police released the names, ages and hometowns of the six people charged in the operation. Each faces a misdemeanor count of patronizing a person for prostitution.
- Gerald Pickering, 68, of Victor
- Stephen Aldrich, 56, of Port Byron
- Michael Winston, 62, of Rochester
- Ty’Mir Puryear, 25, of Rochester
- Alexander Fico, 40, of Irondequoit
- Omid Daryoush, 23, of Rochester
| Name | Age | Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Gerald Pickering | 68 | Victor |
| Stephen Aldrich | 56 | Port Byron |
| Michael Winston | 62 | Rochester |
| Ty’Mir Puryear | 25 | Rochester |
| Alexander Fico | 40 | Irondequoit |
| Omid Daryoush | 23 | Rochester |
Official response and follow-up
A Rochester Police Department statement said officers carried out a prostitution detail in the Lyell Avenue area on Thursday and that six people were arrested. The department has declined to provide additional comment about the arrests.
"Rochester Police said they cannot comment further on any of the arrests."
After the police announcement, News Block received an email that said it was from Gerald Pickering. The message was sent to the news inbox shortly after the arrests were made public; however, the content of that email has not been independently verified by police or other officials.
Context for Rochester readers
The Lyell Avenue corridor has seen periodic police enforcement actions in recent years aimed at addressing street-level sex work and related public-safety concerns. Local residents and businesses who follow enforcement activity often press for a balance between safety, community impact and services for people involved in sex work. Arrests in such details typically result in misdemeanor charges that can be resolved through the local court system.
At this time, the records available to the media list the six charged and their alleged offense; there is no public information in the police release about any prior charges, court dates, or whether the Monroe County District Attorney's Office plans to pursue enhanced charges. Those details would appear in subsequent court filings and hearings.
What to watch next
Rochester residents seeking updates should look for upcoming appearances in city or county court and statements from the Monroe County District Attorney regarding prosecutorial decisions. Any link between the arrested individuals and prior law enforcement employment is a matter for public records and potential confirmation by the institutions involved. For now, the department's limited comment and the email claiming to be from one defendant are the only public responses available.
