Springfield Alderman Sam Cahnman was arrested early Sunday morning at a Springfield bar.
Police say they arrested the 55-year-old around 2:30 a.m. at the Oasis on East Washington Street. Police say he started talking with two undercover female officers who were posing as prostitutes which led to his arrest for alleged "solicitation of a sexual act." The Sangamon County jail says Cahnman posted $100 bond and was released shortly after 3:00 a.m.
His attorney, Jeffery Leving, says he "can't believe in a million years" Cahnman would do that.
In a written statement, Leving wrote "My client, a single man, has all the respect in the world for the Springfield police officers, both uniformed and under cover, but no crime was committed here. Cahnman was sitting at his neighborhood bar, across the alley from his residence, minding his own business, when two female police officers sat down next to him. Casual small talk ensued, but certainly no crime took place. Cahnman has not been charged with any crime."
The City of Springfield has no comment on his arrest.
Police say the arrest was part of a prostitution-narcotics sting. Also in that, police arrested 35-year-old Zira Clark in the 2200 block of East Stuart on a charge of prostitution.
