In a recent incident in California, authorities successfully rescued a 17-year-old victim of human trafficking. The victim, bravely reaching out for help, utilized the modern method of texting 911 to alert authorities and seek assistance.
A woman, whose identity remains unknown, sent a text message to a dispatcher at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Communication Center on Thursday, May 9th, at around 3am. An official engaged in a text message conversation with the woman, who was communicating in Spanish.
Related posts
The sheriff’s office reported that the woman was unfamiliar with her location but managed to provide the dispatcher with specific landmarks and other identifiable details. This valuable information was promptly relayed to the sheriff’s deputies, who immediately initiated a search in the Casitas Springs area.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, authorities were able to locate the woman within 20 minutes. During their investigation, it was revealed that the woman had been trafficked from Mexico to Ventura County two months ago.
After identifying Gerardo Cruz as the suspect in the case, law enforcement swiftly apprehended him. Following his arrest, the woman was transferred to the Ventura County Child Family Services department to facilitate her reunion with her family.
The victim received assistance from the sheriff’s office thanks to innovative technology. The dispatcher swiftly interpreted the woman’s message and responded in English. The response was then translated into Spanish for the woman.
