June 4, 2009, 7:11 pm

Founder of Prostitution Site Is Arrested at BorderBy Matt Richtel

The man who helped move prostitution trafficking from the street corner to the Internet was arrested on Thursday at the Tijuana border, according to the Phoenix police.

David ElmsDavid Elms was trying to cross into California on foot. But when he showed his passport to border patrol agents, they detained him after finding a warrant for his arrest.

In February, Mr. Elms was arrested in Phoenix and charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. He then skipped bail.

The details of the assault charges have not been made public. But people briefed on the case said the charges related to Mr. Elms’s relationship with The Erotic Review, a Web site that he founded. The site allows patrons of prostitutes to rate their experiences, creating a kind of online marketplace. The popularity of the site earned it and Mr. Elms a powerful reputation in prostitution circles.

Sergeant Andy Hill of the Phoenix police said that according to border patrol agents, Mr. Elms told them that after skipping bail, he fled to Toronto, then Dubai, Armenia, Iran and Mexico.

“He told them he went on a long route,â€