HARTFORD--Police raided a North End apartment on Wednesday after reports that two suspects involved in human trafficking and sexual assault were at the address.
Dwayne "Crash" Hairston, 31, of Windsor, and Eric James "Nut" Williams, 25, of Hartford, were among those arrested.
On September 27, the Hartford Police Special Investigations Division got a tip from another police department about a the possible kidnapping and trafficking of an 18-year-old from Hartford.
The next day a meeting was held between the Hartford Police and three other police agencies who have been involved with the victim and they determined an address where they though she might be.
On September 29 the Hartford Special Investigations Division had police stake out the address where they thought the girl was, and they found her inside. However, no suspects were found.
During interviews with the victim, she said she was held against her will for almost a month, during which she was trafficked sexually and physically abused.
After the interviews, police developed information implicating Hairston and Williams.
On December 28 warrants were issued for Hairston and Williams. Hairston was charged with trafficking in persons, kidnapping in the first degree, promoting prostitution, unlawful restraint in the first degree and assault in the second degree; Williams was charged with sexual assault in the first degree. However, the suspects' locations were unknown.
On January 6, around 9 p.m., detectives from the Hartford Police Vice and Narcotics units conducted an undercover operation at an apartment located at 2620 Main St. after getting credible information that several people inside were conducting illegal drug sales from a third-floor apartment. It was also determined that the two suspects could be present.
Police arrested several drug buyers who were leaving the premises, and they found Hairston and Williams. Both were arrested.
Police got a search and seizure warrant for the apartment, and found 28 bags of crack cocaine, 27 bags of heroin, 13 bags of marijuana, packaging materials, $89 and $150 in counterfeit money.
Also two children, ages 8 and 10, were in the apartment where the drugs were found. Police notified the Department of Children and Families.
Charges were added at the time of the arrest for Hairston, including possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell and possession of a controlled substance.
Others charged include:
- Troy West, 43, of Hartford: possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, criminal trespass in the third degree
- Jeri Collins, 34, of Hartford: criminal trespass in the third degree
- Joshua Janton, 34, of Manchester: possession of narcotics, criminal trespass in the second degree, interfering with police, operating a motor vehicle without a license
- Travis Kelly, 39, of Manchester: possession of narcotics, possession of a controlled substance, other charges for outstanding warrants
- Jerome Greene, 30, of Hartford: possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, destruction of evidence, two counts of risk of injury to a minor
- Michelle Lopez, 31, of Hartford: failure to appear in the second degree
- A juvenile from Hartford: possession of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance with intent to sell
