Vermont State Police and federal investigators found evidence of potential human trafficking while searching two Rutland residences suspected of drug trafficking activity Friday. Police said two search warrants were executed at homes on Baxter and Maple streets early that morning. Once inside, investigators said they found multiple chain-link storage areas and a padlocked apartment door with three women behind it. None of the women appeared to be injured but were cleared by medical personnel out of an abundance of caution, according to police. Both search warrants were issued after the homes “were suspected of being linked by drug activity.” Many neighbors reported being woken up by a helicopter circling the area around 6 a.m., which led Marie Roberts to step outside.“When I got down here, it was kind of catastrophe. Everybody’s all wound up, we’re all like ok what’s going on, what’s gonna happen next,” Roberts said. “They had cops cut off to Robins, they’ve got cops cut off on this street, on Baxter. I went down here are there were broken windows.”Rutland City Police, Rutland County Sherriff, Vermont State Police, and the Department of Homeland Security all responded to the two homes.“We watched them at both places take out big black luggage bins, like evidence bins. Huge,” Roberts said.State police and federal authorities found the potential human trafficking evidence at the Maple Street home. Tobey Fuller lives in the building and says he didn’t know the people in the raided apartment, but he’s heard them.“It used to be quiet when I first got here. But we’d get woken up in the middle of the night, they’re either blasting music or fights in the hallway over drugs,” Fuller said. “We know they’re selling crack, we know they’re selling heroin.”Fuller also heard flash bangs during the operation.“I heard the explosion, it echoed. And I said ok that’s not a regular bang. Something’s going on,” Fuller said.Both Fuller and Roberts say drugs are prevalent in the area, with Roberts even calling it a very “drug-oriented” neighborhood.“This was scary. This was a moment I had to step back and say ok this is serious. This isn’t a game,” Roberts said.Additional information will be provided when, and if, criminal charges are filed in connection with the case, according to state police. “There is no risk to the community, but police will be in the area for a period of time,” a social media post from the Rutland City Police Department read. Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact the Homeland Security Investigations tip line at 866-347-2423. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Vermont State Police and federal investigators found evidence of potential human trafficking while searching two Rutland residences suspected of drug trafficking activity Friday.
Police said two search warrants were executed at homes on Baxter and Maple streets early that morning. Once inside, investigators said they found multiple chain-link storage areas and a padlocked apartment door with three women behind it.
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None of the women appeared to be injured but were cleared by medical personnel out of an abundance of caution, according to police.
Both search warrants were issued after the homes “were suspected of being linked by drug activity.” Many neighbors reported being woken up by a helicopter circling the area around 6 a.m., which led Marie Roberts to step outside.
“When I got down here, it was kind of catastrophe. Everybody’s all wound up, we’re all like ok what’s going on, what’s gonna happen next,” Roberts said. “They had cops cut off to Robins, they’ve got cops cut off on this street, on Baxter. I went down here are there were broken windows.”
Rutland City Police, Rutland County Sherriff, Vermont State Police, and the Department of Homeland Security all responded to the two homes.
“We watched them at both places take out big black luggage bins, like evidence bins. Huge,” Roberts said.
State police and federal authorities found the potential human trafficking evidence at the Maple Street home. Tobey Fuller lives in the building and says he didn’t know the people in the raided apartment, but he’s heard them.
“It used to be quiet when I first got here. But we’d get woken up in the middle of the night, they’re either blasting music or fights in the hallway over drugs,” Fuller said. “We know they’re selling crack, we know they’re selling heroin.”
Fuller also heard flash bangs during the operation.
“I heard the explosion, it echoed. And I said ok that’s not a regular bang. Something’s going on,” Fuller said.
Both Fuller and Roberts say drugs are prevalent in the area, with Roberts even calling it a very “drug-oriented” neighborhood.
“This was scary. This was a moment I had to step back and say ok this is serious. This isn’t a game,” Roberts said.
Additional information will be provided when, and if, criminal charges are filed in connection with the case, according to state police.
“There is no risk to the community, but police will be in the area for a period of time,” a social media post from the Rutland City Police Department read.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact the Homeland Security Investigations tip line at 866-347-2423.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
