Petersburg police detectives worked behind the scenes to target predators in the shadows of the community. A human trafficking task force launched an undercover operation and arrested three men who thought they were meeting up with a child with disabilities, according to an arrest affidavit.
Clara Reynolds, the president and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, said human trafficking often increases around these big events and is grateful to see police invest in this type of operation. Arrest affidavits show detectives placed an online ad. Those who responded to that ad thought they would meet a year-old girl, described as autistic and non-verbal. All three are charged with human trafficking.
For, you know, for rape, essentially, it just makes me so angry," said Reynolds. Detectives said when he was arrested they found a rope, pocket knife and gun on him. And that I think this is a great opportunity for all of us in our community to remember that human trafficking happens in our backyards.
Reynolds said most of the victims they are seeing right now are being trafficked by their own family members, because of economic concerns and reminds people, if they see something, say something. Dense Fog Advisory. Human trafficking bust over busy weekend Genevieve Curtis reports.
