( CNN ) -- As police tell it , he called himself `` Scott '' and showed up with $ 150 at the ready . He was drawn to a house on the outskirts of Minneapolis by an online ad that promised a `` no limit experience '' with the catchy tagline , `` Sick of winter ? Come see how Sommer feels . '' Within minutes , he 'd been cuffed , read his rights and cited for engaging in prostitution by undercover detectives in Coon Rapids , Minnesota . He was one of nearly a dozen men arrested as part of a sting operation , and exercised his right to remain silent , according to police reports . `` Scott '' turned out to be Steven Smith , a fellow cop -- in fact , the police chief of the Minneapolis suburb of Robbinsdale . Officers learned his real name the night of his arrest on February 20 , but only discovered his law enforcement role when preparing documents for his lawyer last week , Coon Rapids Police Chief Brad Wise said . `` It was at that time that a staff member recognized Smith 's photo as that of the Robbinsdale police chief , '' Wise said in a written statement . Smith was released after booking on the misdemeanor charge and has since resigned his post , CNN affiliate WCCO reported . His lawyer , Paul Sarratori , declined comment Tuesday . Wise said nothing Smith carried at the time of his arrest identified him as a law enforcement officer . `` Mr. Smith did not ask for special treatment upon his arrest , nor did he receive treatment different from any other person arrested in this operation , '' Wise said . Coon Rapids police `` followed all protocol and procedure '' during the arrest , he added .
Paul Sarratori is about a dozen of one men arrested in a prostitution sting . He has resigned as the police chief in a Coon Rapids suburb , WCCO affiliate reports . Police say he responded to an online ad for a prostitute ; his lawyer declines comment .