Over 150 Arrested During Human Trafficking Sting in Scottsdale
By Ben Bradley Published: Feb. 14, 2024 at 6:43 PM CST|Updated: Feb. 15, 2024 at 7:17 PM CST
SCOTTSDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Scottsdale police say dozens of people were arrested during a multi-agency operation targeting human trafficking in the East Valley city.
Between Jan. 23 and Feb. 10, the Scottsdale Police Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (HEAT) and other Valley-area law enforcement agencies conducted stings to arrest “sex buyers, child predators and individuals involved with the sex trade and trafficking.” Police say 158 people were arrested during the 12-day operation, 37 of whom were booked on felony charges.
“We try to focus a lot of that on child sex trafficking, and sex buyers is the big target,” said Scottsdale Police Sgt. Andrew Parrott. “Obviously, there is just a demand, and you can see that when we put these numbers out.”
The suspects face charges including child sex trafficking, prostitution, pandering, luring a minor for sexual exploitation, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, drug possession and felony flight. While other details about the arrests are limited, Scottsdale police stressed that the stings were decoy-based and that no children were ever directly involved. Others who took part in the operation include police officers from Phoenix, Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Mesa and Surprise, as well as Yavapai County sheriff’s deputies.
“If you are going to come to Arizona to do it, we are going to hold you responsible and do everything to stop it,” Sgt. Parrott said.
Last year, the FBI helped rescue five children from a sex trafficking operation in the Phoenix area and in December, an eastern Arizona man was sentenced to 46 months in prison for attempting to meet up with an underage girl. Federal and state law enforcement agencies work together annually to conduct human trafficking operations designed to “find and assist victims, particularly child victims.”