Pomona, CA — The following is a news release form to Ponoma Police Department:
Over the weekend, the Pomona Police Department SET Team recovered two juvenile victims of Human Trafficking. The first recovery was on Friday January 22nd when officers observed a young looking female in the area of Holt Av and St. Paul St. She was observed wearing very revealing clothing and standing in the street making contact with vehicles occupied by lone male motorists. It was determined that her actions were consistent with loitering for prostitution. Before officers could contact her, she was observed getting into a vehicle. A traffic stop was conducted and the female was contacted. She was found to be a 17 year old juvenile and was taken into protective custody. It was later learned that she was a reported missing juvenile out of the City of Los Angeles. She was transported to the Pomona Police Station for further investigation.
SET Team Officers initiated the First Responder Protocol (FRP) to activate the multi-agency response team, which ensures resources, and services are provided for the victim. The First Responder Protocol is an agreement between the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Probation, and local law enforcement all of whom work in cooperation to provide a victim-centered approach to juvenile victims of human trafficking. The victim was released to the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. This investigation is ongoing.
The second recovery occurred on Sunday January 24th. Pomona Police Department Set Team officers were conducting surveillance along the Holt corridor for prostitution activity when officers observed a very young looking female wearing a fishnet bodysuit with nothing underneath. The female was observed approaching vehicles occupied by lone male motorists, making contact with and waiving at vehicles occupied by lone males. Her actions were consistent with someone loitering for prostitution. SET Team officers contacted the female and she initially told them she was 15 years old. She was immediately taken into protective custody and transported to the Pomona Police station. Once at the station it was discovered she was actually 14 years old and had an open case out of the County of San Bernardino. The juvenile admitted to working as a prostitute since the age of 11.
SET Team Officers initiated the First Responder Protocol (FRP) to activate the multi-agency response team, which ensures resources, and services are provided for the victim. The First Responder Protocol is an agreement between the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Probation, and local law enforcement all of whom work in cooperation to provide a victim-centered approach to juvenile victims of human trafficking. Because the victim had an open case out of San Bernardino County, she was released to the custody of the San Bernardino County Department of Children and Family Services. This investigation is ongoing.
Since January 1st 2021 the Pomona Police Department SET Team has recovered 4 juvenile victims of Human Trafficking.
