By James Wood

Medicine Hat police remove missing teen from sex trade

Jun 16, 2017 | 1:03 PM

A 16 year old girl from Calgary was taken out of the sex trade by the Medicine Hat Police Service in May.

According to the MHPS, Calgary Child and Family Services and the Calgary Police Service reached out in mid-May, informing officers that a young girl was believed to be headed to Medicine Hat from Calgary, for the purpose of prostitution.

After acting on information about her location, officers were able to find both the girl and the adult male who was travelling with her on May 16.

They detained the male for questioning, and located the girl near a local motel after patrols.

“We took a lot of time to investigate that, to make sure we locate her and make her safe,” said MHPS Inspector Joe West.

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“We were able to locate her, which our officers did a great job of. This young lady, at that time, did not want to be found. It took some special investigative techniques to locate her.”

The teenager was apprehended under the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act, and transported for assessment.

According to West, the teen would have been held at a secure facility for five days. The teen would then choose what they wanted to do next.

“The youth has to want some treatment,” said West.

“It’s not like they’re kept in jail, or anything like that. They’re taken to a secure facility where there are those proper supports in place, to get that youth back to having a normal life. That’s the end goal.”

As for the adult male, West said police were not able to gather enough evidence to lay a charge against him.

“He is certainly known to the police, more so in Calgary,” said West.

He doesn’t think the man will be back to Medicine Hat.