Man arrested in human trafficking case involving runaway teen

Authorities are investigating whether a 16-year-old runaway from a group home is a victim of human trafficking and sex crimes, Wichita police said Tuesday.

A 25-year-old Wichita man has been booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on suspicion of aggravated human trafficking, rape, promoting prostitution, aggravated criminal sodomy and a probation violation, jail records show. The man, who has not been charged, was being held on a $500,000 bond.

The victim reported that the suspect raped her and forced her to “perform acts of prostitution,” a police report said.

Investigators also are investigating whether there could be other suspects or alleged victims in the case, said Lt. Jeff Weible, head of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Exploited and Missing Child Unit.

The investigation began a few days ago when police responded to a report of a shoplifting at a Walmart in which the 16-year-old was a suspect, said Wichita police spokesman Lt. Doug Nolte. That initial investigation led to allegations that the 16-year-old, who ran away from a state placement, had been involved in sex against her will, Nolte said. Those allegations led to the arrest of the 25-year-old man, who according to records was arrested Monday on South Broadway.

Court records show that the suspect is on probation for felony theft.

This story was originally published March 27, 2012 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Man arrested in human trafficking case involving runaway teen ."