MARSHALL, MI (WTVB) – Three men were arrested on Thursday in Marshall after they allegedly thought they were chatting with 14-year-old children on social media and were actually communicating with police officers.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department said the arrests came as part of an investigation involving their human trafficking intervention team which is known as Rescuing Humanity Intervention Neighborhood Operations, otherwise known as RHINO. They were assisted by the Marshall Police Department and the Albion Department of Public Safety.
According to a Sheriff’s Department statement, the purpose of this operation was to locate, identify, and arrest subjects utilizing social media platforms for the purpose of meeting up with children for a sexual encounter.
Three men were arrested when they arrived at a location to meet up with the presumed child to have sex.
The suspects are a 27-year-old from Battle Creek, a 49-year-old from Portage, and a 33-year-old from Ghana who is residing in Jackson.
Calhoun County Sheriff Steve Hinkley said, “There are a few things that are the foundation to our community’s success and its future. Our children are one. The internet has opened opportunities to access our children that no one had ever imagined. My office will continue to shine a light of hope into the dark world of Human Trafficking and expose the pain and hurt that is has on so many families. My hope is all parents should find a balance between safety and trust with your child. Digital access to our children is everywhere, and you as a parent should be too.”
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