Heroic Hotel Staff in Tuscaloosa Saves Trafficked Teen from Chicago

Police are crediting the vigilance and bravery of hotel workers in Tuscaloosa for the rescue of a teenager who was missing from Chicago and the victim of human trafficking.

In a Friday afternoon press release, a spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa Police Department and the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force said staff members at an unnamed Tuscaloosa hotel called 911 Thursday to ask for a welfare check on a guest there.

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Police said a front desk staffer, Desiree Garrette, noticed suspicious details during someone's check-in Thursday afternoon. Garrette signaled a coworker, Meredith Griffin, and they reported their suspicions to supervisors Brittany Turk and Tammy Williams.

The hotel staff then verified the teenager's identity and called 911. Tuscaloosa Police Officers arrived on the scene and captured one of the hotel guests who tried to flee.

According to police, one of the guests was a 17-year-old who was recently reported missing from Chicago.

“The hotel staff took thoughtful action to check on the welfare of their guest without regard to their own safety,” West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force commander Capt. Phil Simpson said in the release.

Further investigation led to the arrest of 33-year-old Geremy Lemel Glass, a Michigan man. He was charged with first-degree human trafficking and second-degree possession of marijuana.

Glass was booked in the Tuscaloosa County Jail with no bond set on the trafficking charge and bond set at $6,000 for the marijuana charge.

Police said the missing teen will be transported home to Chicago.

The spokesperson said the investigation into the alleged trafficking is ongoing and additional arrests are expected. TPD also thanked the staff members for their bravery, diligence and efforts to help save the missing teenager.

For more updates on this case, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.