Posted
In July, the Washington County Sheriff's Office partnered with the FBI and multiple local agencies to target traffickers and connect survivors with advocacy services. The mission was part of the FBI’s annual Operation Cross Country. Nationally, the operation led to the identification or arrest of 126 suspects and the recovery of 59 victims of child sex trafficking.
During WCSO’s mission, investigators arrested two men and helped seven women speak with advocates dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking.
Detectives arrested 30-year-old Calvin Daejuan Smith of Portland for promoting prostitution, identity theft, and a parole violation. Mr. Smith was released in July and arrested again in August after failing to appear for court. Deputies also arrested 31-year-old Chris Kendall West Jr. of Portland for unlawful possession of a firearm. Detectives continue to investigate multiple other people identified during the mission.
WCSO was joined by Safety Compass, which offers free and confidential advocacy services for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation in Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington counties. During the mission, multiple survivors were connected in person with Safety Compass advocates.
The mission was a partnership involving the Sheriff’s Office, the Beaverton, Hillsboro, Sherwood, and Tigard police departments, the FBI, Safety Compass, and the Washington County Human Trafficking Task Force. That task force is overseen by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office and brings together prosecutors, law enforcement, and numerous community partners and agencies to rescue victims, identify sex buyers, and hold traffickers accountable.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of human trafficking, it’s important to act immediately. You can call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 503 846-2500 to report any suspicious activity or provide information about potential trafficking cases.