SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – A 29-year-old man from Ferndale is facing human trafficking charges after an arrest in Southfield.
Police said the investigation began Sunday, March 2, after receiving a 911 call from an employee at the Red Oak Inn, who said they had a woman who was afraid of her boyfriend. The 49-year-old victim had been dating the suspect for four months and had allegedly assaulted her in the past, but it was never reported to police.
Police said the woman had gotten into an argument with the boyfriend at The Marvins Garden Inn and was planning to go to Flint to stay with her sister.
When asked if he intended to harm her, he allegedly told her “If I wanted you dead, you would be dead.”
The suspect reportedly refused to exit the victim’s vehicle and grabbed her cellphone from her. Police said she was afraid she would be assaulted by the suspect again and ran to an occupied vehicle nearby, whose driver took her to the Red Oak Inn.
“We thank that private citizen for getting involved because you never know what could have transpired had the intervention that took place,” said Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren.
The lead detective on the case said they saw multiple signs of human trafficking, such as the victim only knowing her boyfriend as “Mellow.”
“Red flag number one,” Barren said. “How do you not know your boyfriend’s name? After four months?”
Additionally, police said the victim had “sex advertisements” posted on social media and she told police that he had forced her to go on multiple dates with men.
Barren said police are working to identify more victims, potentially out of Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
“A lot of our information we did get from the victim, who shared with us other potential victims that we are reaching out to,” Barren said. “At this time, we’re not certain whether he’s working alone.”
Police said they were able to identify the suspect as Rodney Holland, who was allegedly out on probation for domestic violence at the time.
Southfield police took him into custody when he met with his probation officer Tuesday, March 4.
Holland was charged with human trafficking -- forced labor causing injury, prostitution -- transporting person, accepting and receiving earnings from a person engaged in prostitution and human trafficking enterprise causing injury. He was given a $750,000 cash bond.
The initial victim is safe with her family.
