Missing East Palo Alto girl found in man's trunk: SJPD

(File/image courtesy of East Palo Alto Police Department)

(KRON) — A young girl from East Palo Alto was missing in the Bay Area for weeks until police found her in the trunk of a vehicle, according to the San Jose Police Department.

The girl was first reported missing in East Palo Alto on February 25. A man held the girl captive and forced her to engage in sexual acts with clients for money, police said.

“The young survivor was held against her will, threatened, and forced to engage in commercial sex acts in exchange for money,” wrote SJPD spokesperson Stacie Shih.

For the investigation, East Palo Alto Police Department detectives partnered with the SJPD Human Trafficking Task Force.

On March 25, detectives found the girl in the trunk of a vehicle parked outside a San Jose home. Police did not release the juvenile's age.

Detectives identified the child sex trafficking suspect as 22-year-old Jolaun Canton. Four weeks later, officers conducted a traffic stop while Canton was driving.

“The suspect fled on foot during the judicial check. After a foot chase, officers were able to apprehend and arrest suspect Canton. A privately made firearm, commonly known as a ghost gun, was also recovered,” Shih wrote.

Canton is currently locked up in a Santa Clara County jail and faces charges of child sex trafficking, evading a law enforcement officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm. fire. He is being held without bond, according to inmate records.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective Reyes of the San Jose Police Department Special Unit Human Trafficking Task Force at (408) 537-1999 or by email at stopslavy @sanjoseca.gov.