Tribal police, troopers combat sex trafficking in busy regional travel corridor

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/tribal-police-troopers-combat-sex-trafficking-in-busy-regional-travel-corridor/ar-AA21Fn1v

Tribal police, troopers combat sex trafficking in busy regional travel corridor

Story by Lydia Reuille •

ROSELAND, Ind. (WANE) – Authorities in southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana worked together this week to combat trafficking in a highly traveled area. Two men ended up being arrested for soliciting prostitutes.

Thursday, investigators conducted a demand reduction operation to tackle the buyer side of commercial sex, according to a press release from Indiana State Police. The investigation was launched because the demand for paid sexual services often creates a market where exploitation, coercion, addiction, violence and trafficking can occur. The ISP described the region of South Bend – and further north across the state line – as an area “vulnerable to exploitation” due to the proximity of major travel corridors and significant traffic.

19 arrested in Johnson County child solicitation sting

The two Indiana men caught were arrested for separate instances of soliciting a prostitute. Chad Alan Demis, 45, of Grovertown and Oseas Luna, 43, of Elkhart were both taken to the St. Joseph County Jail.

The partnering agencies include two police departments in Michigan tribes: the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. The tribal police worked alongside ISP, Roseland Police and Michigan’s Berrien County Sheriff’s Office.

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