We’re learning more about the human and sex trafficking bust made by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday.
Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit tells us the department partnered with Pokagon Tribal Police, the Michigan City Police Department, and the MSP Southwest Enforcement Team to carry out a day-long operation arresting 15 suspects for solicitation of sex, a 93-day misdemeanor.
“We arrested 15 individuals for what they thought they were coming to a location for sexual activity, and they encountered the police,” Heit said.
Heit said the investigation came out about as a result of human trafficking enforcement training initiated by the Pokagon Tribal Police. The sheriff’s department has identified one victim that Heit says will be connected to support services, should they so choose.
“Anything we can do to help because the soliciting part of that is part of human trafficking…I want to commend the investigators and our staff that put that together.”
Heit says the arrests all occurred in the same location throughout the course of the day, although he couldn’t be specific. The suspects range in age from 28 to 70.
Heit said the use of technology helped to make the operation possible, and the partner agencies will conduct similar operations in the future.
