Investigators with the Washington and Morgan Major Crimes Task Force, part of the Ohio Attorney General's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, arrested Freeman on Thursday night after receiving information accusing him of running a prostitution service out of a hotel room in Marietta. Investigators said Freeman was found in the presence of several adult females, including three women who were being held against their will.
"Human trafficking is a very serious problem throughout the state of Ohio, and it is often a crime that is hard to identify," Attorney General Mike DeWine said in a prepared statement released Friday afternoon. "I applaud the person who contacted authorities after noticing something that didn't seem right. That tip allowed task force members to quickly look into the situation and get these women to safety."
Freeman, who claims to be from the state of New York, was arrested on charges of human trafficking, compelling prostitution, and promoting prostitution. He was also arrested on a charge of possession of a schedule II controlled substance. Authorities found him in possession of more than 180 Hydromorphone pills.
The Washington and Morgan Major Crimes Task Force is made up of members from the Belpre Police Department, Marietta Police Department, Morgan County Sheriff's Office, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Morgan County Prosecutor's Office and Washington County Prosecutor's Office.
Members of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, also part of the Ohio Attorney General's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, is assisting with the investigation.
Authorities are still working to verify Freeman's identity. Anyone with information about the man who identified himself as Freeman is asked to contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 740-376-7070, ext. 0.
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