Phoenix police: 11 kids rescued from drophouse UPDATE
Phoenix police: 11 kids rescued from drophouse
by Brennan Smith - Dec. 3, 2010 09:16 AM
The Arizona Republic
Phoenix police rescued 11 children ranging in age from 2 to 15 following the raid of a Phoenix drophouse on Thursday.
Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Steve Martos said the FBI received a tip from the mother of three of the girls held captive in the drophouse, saying they had been kidnapped from their home in El Salvador.
The woman said she was threatened that if she did not send money to the human smugglers, they would sexually assault her children, who are 12, 14 and 15, Martos said.
Police found the drophouse near South Seventh and West St. Anne avenues and discovered the three girls inside, along with eight other children who were reportedly smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico, El Salvador and Colombia. Martos said all of the children had been smuggled into the U.S. without their parents.
Police arrested a 35-year-old man inside the home, who reportedly claimed he was also smuggled into the U.S. and was working off his debt to the smugglers by guarding the children. Another man in his 40s and a woman, 40, were arrested outside of the home while attempting to drive away, Martos said.
It is currently unknown if any of the children were sexually assaulted or hurt.
Check back for more updates.
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