NEW ORLEANS -- A New Orleans police officer was arrested Friday after an investigation uncovered allegations that while in uniform, he threatened prostitutes with arrest if they did not have sex with him.

Tiji Sherman, 25, a two-year veteran of the force, was booked with extortion, aggravated kidnapping, solicitation for prostitution and malfeasance in office, according to New Orleans Police Department spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo.

Defillo said Sherman's arrest came after a two-month investigation based on the complaints of two women.

Using resources from the Jefferson Parish Sheriffis Office, member sof the NOPD's Public Integrity Bureau set up a surveillance operation to Sharman. At about 2 a.m., two undercover female officers posing as prostitutes were loitering on Chef Menteur Highway near Crowder Boulevard when Sherman drove up in a police cruiser and threatened them with arrests if they did not consent to sexual favors.

They agreed, and Sherman took the undercover officers to a nearby motel. As Sherman parked his cruiser and was entering a rented room, officers converged on the area and arrested him.

Sherman was jailed at Central Lock up. He was relieved of his commission and immediately suspended without pay.