16-Year-Old Girl Saved by Trooper During Traffic Stop
Arizona — Due to relatively new training called Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC), a state trooper received valuable training that assisted him in identifying and rescuing a 16-year-old girl.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
-For Immediate Release-
On January 11, 2017, at about 7:20 a.m., an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper conducted a traffic stop on northbound US 93, near Kingman, Arizona. In the vehicle was an adult male and female and a 16-year-old girl. The trooper discovered that the girl was a runaway from California and had been missing since November 25, 2016. The trooper noticed indicators of possible sex trafficking, which he learned about from taking an IPC class.
The trooper requested assistance from an AZDPS detective. During the investigation, it was determined the child was transported from California, trafficked in Arizona and was being taken to Las Vegas to be trafficked.
The two adults will be charged with Custodial Interference (class 3 felony), Sex Trafficking of a Minor (class 2 felony) and Theft of Means of Transportation (class 3 felony).
Assistant AZDPS Director Lt. Col. Ken Hunter said, “Across the State of Arizona, the Department of Public Safety works tirelessly with federal, state, and local agencies to combat and prevent human trafficking and sex crimes. The arrests made on January 11, 2017, are the result of an experienced trooper utilizing advanced training in the Interdiction for the Protection of Children and criminal interdiction techniques. In this case, our trooper rescued a juvenile victim from continued exploitation and abuse in three states. As an agency, DPS is committed to protecting the innocent and bringing to justice those who would exploit and harm others through human and sex trafficking.”
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