A statewide sting operation focused on human trafficking led to 132 arrests of people trying to buy sex, including 22 seeking sex with children, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Monday.
Additionally, 73 survivors of trafficking were offered social services.
The sting involved 100 law enforcement agencies in 19 counties. Officers raided nine locations that had been linked to human trafficking, including massage parlors and a motel.
Among those arrested:
-
Charles Arnold, 55, of Dayton, who is a chief fire inspector for the Ohio Department of Commerce.
-
Jeffrey Startzman, 68, of Brookville, a former prosecutor and magistrate who serves on the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug, Addiction and Mental Health Services board.
-
John Hughes, 35, who works for the state treasurer’s office and referees high-school sports.
The operation didn’t snag any human traffickers − those who profit off the sale of sex between two others. Yost said arrests of human traffickers typically involve longer-term investigations.
“We need to work up the food chain. Rest assured, we will,” he said.
Signs of trafficking
Law enforcement officials said human trafficking occurs in nearly every community, across all demographics. What should people look for?
“Look for things that don’t seem right,” Yost said.
Signs may include: a couple checking into a hotel or motel without luggage, someone carrying multiple hotel key cards or cellphones, someone with an inconsistent or well-rehearsed story about where they live, someone who doesn’t control their IDs or money.
(This story has been updated to change a video.)
Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio statewide sting nets 132 arrests for trying to buy sex
