OLYMPIA, Washington — A 29-year-old man has been apprehended on suspicion of multiple crimes, including sex trafficking, after allegedly forcing a woman into prostitution across several states, as reported by the Olympia police.
The incident unfolded on February 1st, 2024, when officers were called to the Ramada Inn situated in the 4500 block of Martin Way East. A 34-year-old woman managed to free herself from the man and sought help from the hotel staff, expressing fear, according to Olympia police Lt. Paul Lower.
Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered the woman with visible facial injuries, indicating she had been assaulted during an altercation with the suspect. The woman recounted to the police that the man had physically assaulted her before fleeing the scene in a vehicle, Lower stated.
Read more: How Hotels are Combating Human Trafficking
The victim disclosed to authorities that she had been coerced into prostitution by the suspect, who had threatened her with violence. The pair, originally from California, had traversed through Arizona, Oregon, and eventually reached Washington state.
The suspect was apprehended around 5:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, in the 4400 block of Third Avenue Southeast by Lacey police officers, who located him in his vehicle, according to Lower.
The 29-year-old suspect faces charges of sex trafficking, assault/domestic violence, and violation of a no-contact order, as stated by the police. Further investigations into the matter are ongoing. We are grateful for the efforts of the authorities and hotel staff in Olympia to bring this criminal to justice.
