Using hand gestures from the social media app TikTok, a 16-year-old girl was able to free herself from kidnappers this week, said authorities.
According to Laurel County, Ken., Sheriff John Root, someone driving behind the teen Thursday noticed the girl was making hand gestures known on TikTok to represent that she needed help from domestic violence. This motorist contacted 911 while driving through a construction area.
Similar hand gestures can be seen in this video:
They also continued to follow the vehicle, which was driven by a man, southbound on I-75 to keep police updated on its location. Investigators from Laurel County waited at exit 41 off the roadway to observe the suspect and the vehicle, a silver Toyota.
Upon inspection of the vehicle, authorities found that the teen had been reported missing Tuesday morning from her Asheville, N.C. home by her parents. Police arrested the man driving the car, James Herbert Brick, age 61 of Cherokee, N.C. shortly after noon Thursday.
The teen told investigators that she had traveled with Brick North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and into Ohio, where he had relatives.
“When the male subject’s relatives realized that the female in his custody was under age and reported missing, the accused left Ohio traveling southbound and the female juvenile then began attempting to get motorists attention to call 911,” said the Laurel County Sheriff.
According to the sheriff, a phone was also discovered that allegedly portrayed a juvenile female in a sexual manner.
Brick has been charged with unlawful imprisonment, first-degree and possession of "matter sex performance by a minor over the age of 12 but under age 18," first offense. He was taken to the Laurel County correctional center.
The London City Police, Kentucky State Police, Laurel 911 Dispatch Center, social services, Asheville North Carolina Police department, Cherokee North Carolina Police Dept., FBI London Kentucky office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Asheville North Carolina office assisted in the investigation.
Laurel County authorities said the investigation is continuing.
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