Police

Kent Police Break Up Child Sex Trafficking Ring

Three month investigation leads to search of SeaTac home

 

 

KENT, Wash. – December 16, 2010 – The Kent Police Department has served a search warrant at a SeaTac area home while investigating a commercial sex trafficking case. One person, a 28 year old SeaTac man with a history of felony convictions for promoting prostitution and drug crimes, has been arrested.  

 

Members of the Kent Police Special Investigations Unit and Valley SWAT went to a home in the 17300 block of 33 Avenue South late this afternoon. Acting on information developed during a 3 month investigation, detectives arrested the SeaTac man for a variety of charges to include rape, commercial sex trafficking of minors, and assault.  

 

The investigation started with a street contact made by Kent patrol officers during the late summer months earlier this year. As their investigation developed, detectives learned that the suspect would befriend young girls he met in the area, developing a personal and romantic relationship with them, before compelling them to engage in acts of prostitution for his profit.  The suspect would then maintain control of the girls using violence and the threat of violence.   Detectives were able to track his activities throughout the Pacific Northwest.  

 

“These young victims had no sense of what they were getting into when they were befriended by this suspect” noted Kent Police Lieutenant Pat Lowery. Kent Police worked closely with the King County Prosecutors Office as their case was developed. “This is another example of law enforcement working together to ensure the safety of our community and those that live here," said Sergeant Todd Durham.  The suspect is being held at the Kent City Jail pending charges being filed.  

 

Media Contact:  

Lieutenant Pat Lowery 

(253) 856-5833 

 plowery@kentwa.gov