DETROIT – Detroit Police, State Police and the FBI are working a case of what they believe is human trafficking at a southwest Detroit home.
Three women -- two 31-year-old women and one 40-year-old woman -- were rescued from the home. The FBI sent its Rapid Evidence Recovery Team to the scene to process the home, and a 69-year-old man was taken into custody.
Neighbors told Local 4 News the 69-year-old man appeared at the home earlier this year. They were unclear on whether he was a squatter or actually owned the home.
The three women were seen coming and going often.
"All they do is walk up and down the street and buy drugs and use drugs," Sharvonte Page said.
It was clear to neighbors they were working as prostitutes, but nobody thought they were being held against their will. It was not uncommon to see the women emerge from the home in nothing but their underwear and jump into waiting cars and then return in 10 minutes. They said it appeared to be an appointment-based business.
One neighbor said at least one of the women was homeless and was required to work as a prostitute to stay in the house and be supplied with drugs.
Detroit police were asking neighbors if they had seen younger girls here between the ages of 15-17; they told Local 4 News they haven't seen anybody that young there.