CHOCO
Jan 15th, 2003, 11:37 PM
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/US/Midwest/01/15/prostitution.ring/story.house.jpg
Police say girls were kidnapped and held in this Detroit house.
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/US/Midwest/01/15/prostitution.ring/story.mcconnell.jpg
One of the girls approached security guard Dorian McConnell, who called police.
Man accused of forcing girls, women into prostitution
Wednesday, January 15, 2003 Posted: 6:26 PM EST (2326 GMT)
DETROIT, Michigan (CNN) -- Detroit police have arrested a 32-year-old man, accusing him of kidnapping girls and forcing them to be part of a prostitution ring, authorities told CNN Wednesday.
Prosecutor Rebecca Tenorio told CNN authorities are going through evidence to determine what charges will be brought. The man was identified as Henry Davis, who goes by the nickname "Chicago," said Mike Walsh with the sex crimes unit of the Detroit Police Department.
A 17-year-old boy also was arrested, but has been released. "I don't know if we'll end up with charges on him," Walsh said.
Cmdr. Gerard Simon of the Organized Crime, Gangs Division of the Detroit Police Department said authorities believe the 17-year-old served as an accomplice for Davis, whom they allege ran the operation.
Davis is expected to be arraigned later this week. Simon said Davis sexually assaulted the girls after they were kidnapped, then forced them into prostitution and made them dance at illegal after-hours clubs.
When police raided the house suspected of being the ring's base of operations late Monday night, they found seven girls and women, ranging in age from 13 to 21. At least two were juveniles, Simon said.
There were also two infant boys and six other men who were not charged, officials said.
The operation may also have involved dozens of girls from Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland, officials said. The FBI has joined the investigation.
One Cleveland girl who escaped from the alleged ring helped police break the case. She ran into a shoe store and screamed for help from security guard Dorian McConnell.
"She just broke loose from the crowd and ran over to me... and was asking for help, McConnell said, adding that she was yelling, "Don't let me leave with them."
McConnell took her to the police. She led police to the home.
The 17-year-old girl had been abducted Thursday at a Cleveland bus stop on the way home from her job at a clothing store, police said.
Authorities had been investigating the case since early September, when a girl came into a precinct and claimed she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted, but managed to break free. She was unable to guide authorities to the home or provide specific descriptions, Simon said.
In the weeks that followed, police investigated six other complaints from girls with similar stories. Police said all seven girls who escaped are willing to testify.
Some of the older girls in the ring helped the ringleader, using physical violence to make the younger girls follow orders, Simon said.
Police say girls were kidnapped and held in this Detroit house.
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/US/Midwest/01/15/prostitution.ring/story.mcconnell.jpg
One of the girls approached security guard Dorian McConnell, who called police.
Man accused of forcing girls, women into prostitution
Wednesday, January 15, 2003 Posted: 6:26 PM EST (2326 GMT)
DETROIT, Michigan (CNN) -- Detroit police have arrested a 32-year-old man, accusing him of kidnapping girls and forcing them to be part of a prostitution ring, authorities told CNN Wednesday.
Prosecutor Rebecca Tenorio told CNN authorities are going through evidence to determine what charges will be brought. The man was identified as Henry Davis, who goes by the nickname "Chicago," said Mike Walsh with the sex crimes unit of the Detroit Police Department.
A 17-year-old boy also was arrested, but has been released. "I don't know if we'll end up with charges on him," Walsh said.
Cmdr. Gerard Simon of the Organized Crime, Gangs Division of the Detroit Police Department said authorities believe the 17-year-old served as an accomplice for Davis, whom they allege ran the operation.
Davis is expected to be arraigned later this week. Simon said Davis sexually assaulted the girls after they were kidnapped, then forced them into prostitution and made them dance at illegal after-hours clubs.
When police raided the house suspected of being the ring's base of operations late Monday night, they found seven girls and women, ranging in age from 13 to 21. At least two were juveniles, Simon said.
There were also two infant boys and six other men who were not charged, officials said.
The operation may also have involved dozens of girls from Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland, officials said. The FBI has joined the investigation.
One Cleveland girl who escaped from the alleged ring helped police break the case. She ran into a shoe store and screamed for help from security guard Dorian McConnell.
"She just broke loose from the crowd and ran over to me... and was asking for help, McConnell said, adding that she was yelling, "Don't let me leave with them."
McConnell took her to the police. She led police to the home.
The 17-year-old girl had been abducted Thursday at a Cleveland bus stop on the way home from her job at a clothing store, police said.
Authorities had been investigating the case since early September, when a girl came into a precinct and claimed she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted, but managed to break free. She was unable to guide authorities to the home or provide specific descriptions, Simon said.
In the weeks that followed, police investigated six other complaints from girls with similar stories. Police said all seven girls who escaped are willing to testify.
Some of the older girls in the ring helped the ringleader, using physical violence to make the younger girls follow orders, Simon said.