RYAN ROBINSON, Staff Writer

One john called Lancaster city police shortly after 7 p.m. on Thursday, police said.

He complained that he gave $25 to a female for sex in the 100 block of South Queen Street, and she took his money and left without completing the "transaction," police said.

Police advised the cell phone caller that his actions were illegal and he could be prosecuted, police said. The man then decided he did not wish police to investigate the incident any further.

Police responded to South Queen Street, but the woman was no longer there, they said.

City police Lt. Todd Umstead said the call was certainly unusual, but not a first.

"I recall handling a similar call years ago," he said. "The guy was very upset."

That john did not speak much English so he used hand signals to describe what happened, Umstead said.

Umstead also explained why police can't charge the johns in such cases.

"Without being able to locate the other half or an independent witness, it would be impossible to prosecute someone for claiming they solicited a prostitute," he said. "Even if you did locate the prostitute, it would be a difficult case to prosecute because your witness would probably be a co-defendant."

A confession alone is not enough to charge someone with a crime, Umstead said.

"You could walk in the lobby and confess to kidnapping the Lindbergh baby," he said. "Without any other proof, we wouldn't be able to charge you."