Authorities in the United States have rescued a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly trafficked into the country from Mexico by a man taken into custody earlier this month.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office shared in a press release that its communication center received a text on May 9 at around 3 a.m. that included a plea for help from the trafficked teen.
After her texts came through, a dispatcher at the center started communicating with her in Spanish, learning that she had been trafficked and was not aware of where she was.
However, the dispatcher was able to get her to describe where she was using landmarks, giving just enough information for the Ojai Sheriff’s Office to be notified and begin searching.
Deputies quickly began searching the Casita Springs area, and after 20 minutes, the young girl was found. Her name and hometown have not been released.
After an investigation, law enforcement officials were able to discover that the 17-year-old girl was trafficked into California nearly two months ago.
She has since been evaluated and transferred to Ventura County Child Family Services until she is able to be reunited with her family.
It is not known if she has family in the United States or when a reunion could happen.
The main suspect in the case was identified by the girl as 31-year-old Gerardo Cruz of Veracruz, Mexico, who was “quickly located and arrested by deputies,” police said.
Online records reviewed by CBS News shared that Cruz has been charged and pled not guilty to human trafficking forcible rape, lewd acts upon a child, luring, and sexual penetration with force.
Cruz is currently being held and scheduled to appear in court this week.