Arrests Made in Human Trafficking Investigation

From February 21st to the 22nd, the Central MN Human Trafficking Task Force, in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, conducted an enforcement detail in the Central Minnesota area. The enforcement detail resulted in five arrests.

Four individuals were arrested for gross misdemeanor crimes related to attempting to purchase sex and one individual was arrested for felony level solicitation of a person under 18. All five individuals will be charged via complaint by the Stearns County Attorney’s Office and are pending court appearances.

There are also several active and ongoing electronic solicitation of a child investigations resulting from the detail. Additional arrests are anticipated. As these investigations remain ongoing, no further details are available. The Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force consists of officers from the St. Cloud Police Department, Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and the Sartell Police Department. All three agencies provided additional officers to assist with the operation.