Investigators in Polk County said a six-day long undercover investigation focused on human trafficking resulted more than 100 arrests and the rescue of a 17-year-old girl.
What You Need To Know
- The Polk County Sheriff's Office and Auburndale, Haines City, Lake Hamilton, Lake Wales and Lakeland Police Departments participated in this investigation
- 55 of the 102 suspects live in Polk County
- BELOW: Watch Grady Judd news conference describing the arrests
The Polk County Sheriff's Office and Auburndale, Haines City, Lake Hamilton, Lake Wales and Lakeland Police Departments participated in this investigation.
There were 102 suspects arrested. According to the Sheriff's Office, 38 offered to commit prostitution, 62 solicited prostitutes, and two suspects were alleged child predators.
All of the suspects were from the Central Florida area, with the exception of four who were from out-of-state. Fifty-five of the suspects live in Polk County.
Detectives worked with anti-trafficking organizations, and each suspect arrested for prostitution was offered assistance.
The two suspected child predators were accused of either traveling to meet a minor for sex, or transmitting materials harmful to a minor and soliciting a minor online.