ALPINE SHERIFF’S INVESTIGATION LEADS TO RECOVERY OF RUNAWAY TEEN AND ARREST IN SUSPECTED TRAFFICKING CASE

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By Miriam Raftery
 
August 15, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – A runaway 15-year-old girl from San Diego has been rescued and was returned home yesterday as the result of an investigation by Alpine Sheriff’s deputies and detectives, along with Juvenile Services and the San Diego County Human Trafficking Task Force.

“The victim is safe, and has been offered services,” Sergeant Chase Chiappino with the Human Trafficking Task Force told ECM.
 
Authorities obtained information that the girl was being sexually trafficked by a male adult, Sgt. Chiappino says.  “The juvenile was thought to be with the suspect in a residence in the unincorporated El Cajon area.”
 
Trafficking detectives received information that Joseph Price, 23, was allegedly responsible for sex trafficking the girl, according to Chiappino. This morning at 9:45 a.m., Price was arrested on a parole violation in the 9800 block of Pacific Heights in San Diego, however “additional charges are pending,” according to Sgt. Chiappino.
 
The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force is led by the California Department of Justice. The Task Force is comprised of investigators from the following agencies: San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sheriff's Department, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Parole, California Highway Patrol, San Diego County Probation Department, National City Police Department, Escondido Police Department, FBI, and other associate law enforcement agencies. 
 

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