COLUMBUS – More than 50 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies Monday announced the success of a statewide crackdown on human trafficking.
Authorities rescued victims of human trafficking, recovered missing and exploited children, and arrested male johns seeking to buy sex, including those seeking to have sex with minors (see below).
The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Trask Force, Columbus PACT Unit and the Cuyahoga County Human Trafficking Task Force rescued 109 human trafficking victims and referred them to social services during Operation Autumn Hope, Deputy Columbus Police Chief Jennifer Knight said.
“Our goal is to get individuals that are…in that cycle, prostitution cycle, and break that cycle,” she said.
OPERATION AUTUMN HOPE:
In 3 days, 10/20-10/22, CPD officers working PACT (Police And Community Together) made 50 arrests connected with prostitution.
This was a statewide effort by @OhioAG to target prostitution & human trafficking.
CPD’s operation:https://t.co/VvlRsFw9ar pic.twitter.com/kTtrESXSqF
— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) October 26, 2020
“It wasn’t just about arresting people. It was about providing hope and providing help,” Ohio attorney general Dave Yost said.
Across southern Ohio, 45 missing and exploited children were recovered including a 14-year-old girl who was recovered in Columbus within six hours of being reported missing by Lancaster police, a 15-year-old girl missing from Cleveland whose recovery linked her and other possible victims to an individual in Columbus suspected of human trafficking, and a 15-year-old boy who is a suspect in a homicide and multiple shootings, according to a release from Yost’s office.
More than 150 men in Franklin, Cuyahoga and Lucas counties, including a fireman, an attorney and a motivational speaker, were arrested on charges of soliciting and other crimes.
“Human trafficking only exists when there’s supply and demand so we’re enforcing Ohio’s laws about promoting prostitution, about solicitation, also against the johns who provide the demand and the money that drive this illicit trade,” Yost said.
The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force apprehended 22 individuals seeking to have sex with a minor.
A pastor, students, and a rehabilitation resident advisor were among those arrested and charged with felony counts of importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, possession of criminal tools and other felonies.