Law enforcement concerned about human trafficking in the area - Citizentribune
When Hamblen County Sheriff Esco Jarnagin was approached by a concerned citizen about some suspicious activity in their neighborhood, Jarnigan sent some deputies to check it out.
What was expected to be a simple drug bust turned out to be a prostitution and human trafficking ring with tentacles reaching into Kentucky and Ohio. This was early in Jarnagin’s first term as sheriff, having served as Hamblen County Sheriff since 2006.
“After we rescued these girls, we realized that not only is this a problem across the country, but across Tennessee as well,” said Jarnagin.
Jarnagin turned out to be right. Available state records indicate that in 2019, there were 180 human trafficking cases in the state of Tennessee with 131 of these classified as sex trafficking cases.
In Dec. 2016, five men from the Lakeway Area were arrested on prostitution charges in Morristown.
According to Morristown Chief of Police, Roger Overholt, there were two individuals arrested in 2019 for sex related crimes, which classified as a trafficking crime.
One man from Morristown was arrested in June on human trafficking charges in Unicoi County. And in late October, two missing girls from Sevier County were rescued from a sex trafficking ring after running away from a group home.
In Chattanooga over a two day period, beginning Nov. 10, 2021, as part of an undercover investigation aimed at addressing human trafficking in the East Tennessee area, undercover officers placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex. The results ended with 11 men arrested and standing accused of seeking illicit sex from minors and one woman arrested and charged with promoting prostitution.
Overholt said the Morristown Police Department conducts undercover operations which target human traffickers, provide educational materials and presentations regarding human trafficking crimes.
He offered ways that the general public can help.
“Communicate to others your concerns and contact law enfacement if you feel in danger yourself,” said Overholt. “If you believe there is an immediate threat to yourself, try to leave the area of the threat and make contact with other people as soon as you can.”
Jarnagin advises citizens to be alert, to learn some measure of self defense, to carry pepper spray or mace and to try to get in a public space if you feel in danger of being abducted yourself.
Jarnagin has a warning for parents as well.
“Parents need to watch their children,” said Jarnigan. “Be aware of where they are while you’re out shopping, keep them within eyesight. Same goes for the playground. Watch your children. Shopping centers and playgrounds are two of the most dangerous places that predators frequent.”
Playgrounds and shopping centers aren’t the only places that parents should be alert.
One of the most common ways for children to be trafficked in the state of Tennessee is not through abduction or kidnapping, as an overwhelming majority of cases start at home or with someone the child trusts.
“Traffickers are often known by their victim,” said Overholt. “They may have sought out the victim and developed a relationship to gain the victim’s trust.”
Some signs to look out for in cases of child and teen trafficking or grooming for trafficking are changes in behavior, falling grades, skipping school, being on their phone more than usual and they may even start using drugs and alcohol.
National data indicates that high risk victims may include runaway youth, homeless youth, foreign nationals, underage children, young women and those in need of basic necessities (such as food and shelter.)
“If you notice something suspicious, call and alert the local authorities,” said Jarnagin. “If the public doesn’t reach out with tips or alert local law enforcement officials to suspicious activity or when they just have that gut instinct that something is wrong, we may never be able to help or rescue these people or children if they are actually victims. Do your constitutional duty, reach out to local law enforcement. We follow every lead.”
The public can assist by reporting any known trafficking or suspected trafficking activity.
Information can be anonymously reported to the Morristown Police Department by calling 423-585-1833. Individuals may also contact the Morristown Police Department at 423-585-2701. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also has a human trafficking tip line, that number is 1-855-558-6484.
source: https://www.citizentribune.com/news/local/law-enforcement-concerned-about-human-trafficking-in-the-area/article_72e865f4-5039-11ec-969e-b7c1134e2066.html
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