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View Winners → News Sep 15, 2021
| Photo courtesy of Pomona Police Department
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A 16-year-old victim of sex trafficking was taken into protective custody in Pomona Wednesday.
Units from the Pomona Police Department’s Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking Team responded at about 9 a.m. to the area of East Holt Avenue and North Loranne Avenue on a call referencing two “young looking females” loitering in the area, according to Sgt. Brad Paulson.
“SETT officers located the females and observed them for several minutes,” Paulson said. “Both girls were seen waving at and contacting cars driven by lone male motorists in a manner consistent with someone loitering with the intent to commit prostitution. One of the girls was also seen dancing in the street to stop traffic.”
Officers contacted the two and learned one was a 16-year-old girl and the other was a 19-year-old woman, police said. The girl was taken into protective custody and transferred to the Pomona Police Department, while the woman was arrested and booked into jail.
Their names were not released.
The 16-year-old girl was later released to the custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Paulson said.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing and anyone with information was asked to contact the PPD at 909-620-2085. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.