Police Rescue 14,15 & 16 Year Old Females From Sex Trade – Numerous Charges Laid

Charges have been laid by police following the third installment of a coordinated, national investigation to suppress human trafficking.

On Wednesday, June 17, 2015, and Thursday, June 18, 2015, as part of Operation Northern Spotlight, members of the Toronto Police Service and 20 other police services pre-arranged to meet with people suspected of partaking in the sex trade, potentially against their will, at urban locations across Ontario.

During the coordinated investigations over the two-day period, police charged two people with 41 offences. Police were also able to ensure the safety of six females, who had been working in the sex trade as a minor or against their will, including one 14-year-old, three 15-year-olds, a 16-year-old and a 19-year-old.

Ninety officers and support staff combined to interview 122 people, including 110 women and offered them information and contacts with community-based support agencies.

Charges have been laid by police following this third installment of a coordinated, provincial investigation to suppress human trafficking, they include:

1. Trafficking in Persons under 18 years

2. Trafficking in Persons

3. Financial / Material Benefit from Trafficking in Person under 18 years

4. Material Benefit from Sexual Services provided by Person under 18 years

5. Procuring / Recruit Person under 18 to provide Sexual Services

6. Procuring / Person under 18 years

7. Advertising another person’s Sexual Services

8. Administer Noxious Substance

9. Sexual Assault

10. Sexual Interference with a Person under 16 years of age

11. Invitation to Sexual Touching under 16 years of age

12. Print / Publish / Possess to publish Child Pornography

13. Import / Sell / Distribute Child Pornography

14. Unlawfully Possess Child Pornography

During the initiative, Durham Regional Police Service conducted an intelligence probe with a 14-year-old girl in their jurisdiction for a possible intervention. Officers spoke with the girl, and she disclosed that she was allegedly being forced into the sex trade by a man. Further investigation identified the man as Levi Alexander, 19, of Toronto. Alexander is currently wanted on a Canada Wide Warrant for Human Trafficking charges by the Toronto Police Service in relation to the last Human Trafficking investigation – Project Guardian, where he allegedly forced a 16-year-old girl into the sex trade. Police are concerned that this man will continue to victimize young girls and are appealing to the public for their assistance in apprehending him.

The following police services participated in this phase of Operation Northern Spotlight:

• Barrie Police Service

• Brantford Police Service

• Durham Region Police Service

• Greater Sudbury Police Service

• Guelph Police Service

• Halton Regional Police Service

• Hamilton Police Service

• North Bay Police Service

• Ontario Provincial Police

• Ottawa Police Service

• Peel Regional Police

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• Sarnia Police Services

• Saugeen Shores Police Service

• Stratford Police Service

• Thunder Bay Police Service

• Toronto Police Service

• Treaty Three Police Service

• Waterloo Regional Police Service

• Windsor Police Service

• Woodstock Police Service.

Guelph Police Service involvement

The Guelph Police Service had three officers participate in this project working in partnership with officers from Waterloo Regional Police Service, Woodstock Police Service, Brantford Police Service and Stratford Police Service. The project ran over two days the 17th and 18th of June 2015 in both Kitchener and Guelph. There were no charges laid in relation to this project but several females involved in the sex trade were met and spoken to and provided with contact information for support services. The Guelph Police Service recognizes that trafficking of domestic sex trade workers possess significant risk to those involved and supported this proactive initiative to provide assistance to individuals who may be the victims of criminal offences or want to escape their situations.

If you or anyone you know may be involved in the sex trade contact Detective Constable Patty Pronovost of the Guelph Police Service at 519-824-1212 E7203 or anonymously at CRIME STOPPERS 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.csgw.tips.

Over 150,000 Monthly Readers! 1 Million+ Across the entire FreePress Network.