Bakersfield Police Department has arrested a Fresno man for human trafficking after a runaway teen was found in a Union Ave. hotel on Thursday night.
BPD officials said at around 10:45 p.m, they responded to the Residence Hotel, located at 1622 Union Avenue, for an attempt to locate a 14-year-old female runaway out of Fresno.
Doug Bennett, who has made it a mission to rescue women from human trafficking says this is around the average age girls enter the lifestyle.
"The average age that a girl enters into prostitution, or is victim to human trafficking is 12-14 years old. So, she's kind of on the older end as far as the girls who are being trafficked into the life," said Bennett.
BPD got a tip that the teen was reported to be staying at the hotel with an adult male.
When officers arrived, they contacted the juvenile, as well as 38-year-old Michael Antwon Wyshiek Jones, also from Fresno.
Union Avenue is known for being a major hub for human trafficking, not just locally, but across the state.
"That's where the traffickers know that they can take a girl, bring her in from Fresno, or Long Beach, or the Bay Area. Bring her in and selll her and that's where the men go to buy," explained Bennett.
Investigation revealed evidence of human trafficking. Jones was arrested and booked into the Kern County Jail for PC 236.1 (c)-human trafficking and PC 266i (a) 1 Pandering.
Those who need help or know if anyone they'd like to help get out of trafficking are encouraged to call Bennett's organization at 661-808-HOPE (4673).
Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 327-7111.
