BEAVERTON, Ore., Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A chance traffic stop and an alert Beaverton, Ore., police officer led to a 14-year-old girl being rescued from a life of forced prostitution, authorities say.
Portland police Detective Cheryl Waddell said after a Beaverton police officer made a routine stop of a 42-year-old man's van Nov. 8, the officer became suspicious of a young-looking woman also in the vehicle, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Wednesday.
After a Portland police detective was called in to assist, the girl reportedly admitted being a 14-year-old who was having a sexual relationship with the male driver.
The girl, whose identity was not released, also told the police she was being forced to work as a prostitute by a relative.
The girl's comments led to her relative, James Edward Alderson, 29, being accused of compelling prostitution.
"He'd pass her around to just anybody, and he got her hooked on crack cocaine," Waddell alleged regarding the suspect. "Most of these men were low-level drug dealers."
The Oregonian said the male motorist, identified as Albert Anthony Champagne, is facing a third-degree rape charge.
