Arizona trooper rescues 16-year-old girl from suspected sex traffickers

PHOENIX — An Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper rescued a 16-year-old girl from suspected sex traffickers last week, the agency said.

In a press release, DPS said the unidentified trooper stopped a vehicle on northbound U.S. 93 near Kingman on Jan. 11 about 7:20 a.m.

The trooper discovered the teenage girl in the vehicle was a runaway from California who was reported missing Nov. 25, 2016. He suspected the girl was being trafficked and called in backup.

An investigation showed the girl was trafficked in Arizona and was being taken to Las Vegas for the same purpose.

“In this case, our trooper rescued a juvenile victim from continued exploitation and abuse in three states,” Assistant DPS Director Lt. Col. Ken Hunter said in the release. “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.”

The man driving the car, along with another individual, were charged with custodial interference, sex trafficking of a minor and theft of a means of transportation. All the crimes are felonies.

The victim and the suspects have not been identified.

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