Sheriff Grady Judd is giving details about a six-day-long undercover investigation focusing on identifying and helping victims of human trafficking.
The Auburndale, Haines City, Lake Hamilton, Lake Wales, and Lakeland Police Departments participated in this investigation, which resulted in 102 suspects being arrested (38 who offered to commit prostitution, 62 who solicited prostitutes, and two child predators). All of the suspects were from the central Florida area, with the exception of five who were from out-of-state. 55 of the suspects live in Polk County.
Detectives worked with anti-trafficking organizations, and each suspect arrested for prostitution was offered assistance. Three people so far have been identified as possible human trafficking victims.
Read the new release https://tinyurl.com/yvz3chde