SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio — Several law enforcement entities made the arrests of multiple individuals who allegedly attempted to purchase explicit sexual services online, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
A recent investigation into human trafficking in Summit and Portage counties led authorities to arrest multiple men and women in the course of the single-day investigation.
On that day, nearly 20 people were arrested after answering an online advertisement offering sexual services in exchange for cash payment, officials said.
Five men from Akron, ages 53, 42, 56, 38 and 25 were arrested and charged with soliciting. A 37-year-old man from Shreeve, a 37-year old ma from Brunswick, a 54-year-old man from Fairlawn, a 62-year-old man from Wadsworth, a 52-year-old man from Warren, a 54-year-old man from Newton Falls, a 38-year-old woman from Canton, a 41-year-old man from Ravenna and a 41-year-old man from Lexington, Kentucky were arrested and charged with soliciting.
Seth Mellie, 33, of Canton, was charged with promoting prostitution, a felony.
A 29-year-old Akron man and a 39-year-old Akron man had warrants ordered for their arrest.
During the operation, authorities made contact with several possible human trafficking victims, who were offered services from RAHAB Ministries and The Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit Counties.
Further charges and arrests are pending the outcome of the investigation, which was conducted by the Summit County Sheriff's Office, Akron Police Department, Portage County Sheriff's Office, Summit County Prosecutor's Office and the Summit County Human Trafficking Force.
“To all the men and women who responded to the sexual service, we know who you are,” the Summit County Sheriff's Office said.
