Last week, Fairfield Police Department assisted in retrieving two runaway teens at risk for human trafficking.
On Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 10:20 a.m. the Fairfield Police Department received a call from the Irving Police Criminal Investigations Division stating they were tracking a cell phone on Interstate 45 in our city. Irving Police advised two female juveniles were reported as runaways four days earlier. Detectives advised they were tracking the cell phone through AT&T.
Per Irving Police, Fairfield PD Dispatch advised officers the female juveniles were possibly in a red Nissan Altima. Officers began to check nearby hotels and convenient stores located close to Interstate 45. At approximately 10:45 a.m., Officer Mary Warren and Assistant Chief Albert Gallegos were patrolling the parking lot of the Budget Inn Hotel and Cooper Farms.
Officer Warren and Assistant Chief Gallegos observed what appeared to be two young female juveniles walking with an older male subject.
With information previously given by Irving Police Officer Warren and Assistant Chief Gallegos stopped all three subjects. It was quickly determined the two female juveniles were in fact the same ones who were reported as runaways out of Irving. During the investigation officers discovered the female juveniles got in contact with a unidentified truck driver in Irving. The driver drove both females to Houston.
The unidentified truck driver then drove them back from Houston to Fairfield. The unidentified truck driver stopped in Fairfield and dropped them off at Texas Tire Pro located at 323 West IH 45 Service Road. An employee at Texas Tire Pro advised that he saw the two female juveniles exit a blue 18-wheeler. The unidentified driver then drove away.
The other male who was originally stopped by Officer Warren and Assistant Chief Gallegos was interviewed. He advised that he was getting his own 18-wheeler repaired at Texas Tire Pro. The male said he left his truck at the location and went to Loves and Burger King. He said that he was eating at Burger King when the two female juveniles came up to him and asked for a ride back to Dallas.
The camera footage inside the Loves and Burger King verified the male subject’s story. Officers contacted Freestone County District Attorney Investigator Jason McGhee to come and assist. After further questioning of the male subject, it was determined that no crime had been committed.
At 12:45 p.m. the Fairfield Police Department received a phone call from the Dallas Police Department. Detectives with the Dallas Police Human Trafficking Division had received information we had the two female juveniles in our custody. Officers were informed by Dallas Police the female juveniles were deemed as High-Risk Runaways involved in Human Trafficking.
Detectives with the Dallas Police Human Trafficking Division advised they would take over the investigation. Dallas Police stated they wanted to do further interviews with the female juveniles. At the request of Dallas Police Officer Warren and Assistant Chief Gallegos transported the females back to Dallas. The females were transported to the Child Advocacy Center where they were released to Dallas Police Detectives Human Trafficking Division. All information collected as well as persons of interest were turned over to Dallas Police.
We would like to thank Irving Police, Dallas Police and Investigator Jason McGhee for all the assistance that was provided.
Police Chief David Utsey and Assistant Chief Albert Gallegos reporting.
