Moses Arrested in Police Sweep for Soliciting

Hurdler Edwin Moses, considered one of the world’s finest track and field athletes, was arrested for soliciting a Hollywood vice officer posing as a prostitute early Sunday morning, police said.

Moses, who was named Sports Illustrated magazine’s co-athlete of the year with gymnast Mary Lou Retton, was booked at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Genessee Avenue at 3:15 a.m. He was one of 82 arrested by a Hollywood trick vice task force.

Moses, who lives in Laguna Hills, was released on his own recognizance. Moses, 29, is married with no children.

Police Sgt. Andrew Heider said that a small amount of marijuana was found in Moses’ car but that Moses was not charged with possession of the drug.

Moses’ agent, Gordon Baskin of Los Angeles, said: “I’m devastated. This isn’t Edwin Moses. I’m shocked, I don’t know what to say.”

Baskin said Moses had met with U.S. Olympic Committee officials Sunday in Los Angeles and was being considered for a position on the USOC’s board of directors. At the 1984 Games here last summer, Moses read the Athletes’ Oath for the 7,800 competitors during the Opening Ceremony. He was selected by the USOOC and the LAOOC to read the oath at least partly because he long has been an advocate of athletes’ rights.

Moses is a three-time United States Olympian. He won gold medals in the 1976 and 1984 Games in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and was a member of the U.S. team that boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games.

He has won 109 consecutive 400-meter hurdle races, a streak that dates back to August, 1977.