Kent, WA — The Kent Police Department is highlighting a recent incident involving a teenager in crisis as part of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, aiming to raise awareness and provide resources for families in need.
According to police, officers responded over the weekend after a 911 caller reported unwanted individuals inside her home on Kent’s East Hill. When officers arrived, they discovered the individuals were inviting a teenage girl, who was not known to them, to stay in their home.
Police later learned the teen had been kicked out of her home at age 14 and had been moving between states since then. She reported being physically abused by her mother, denied proper medical care, and said she had been threatened. The teen told officers she had nowhere else to go and no options for safe housing.
The responding officer and multiple crewmembers worked for more than five hours attempting to contact the teen’s family. Police say they explored several housing and shelter options, but none were immediately successful. As tensions escalated within the home where the teen was staying, officers located a safe indoor location for her to remain overnight. FD CARES assisted by arranging transportation to that location.
Kent Police emphasized that while situations involving family crises can be overwhelming, abandoning a child is not an acceptable solution. Officers stressed that parents who feel unable to care for their child should seek help through legal and support services rather than leaving a minor without supervision or support.
The boyfriends’ domestic abuse case has been referred to the city and county for further investigation.
Police are urging parents and guardians to reach out for help before a situation escalates and shared multiple resources available for crisis intervention, counseling, and youth support.
The Kent Police Department encourages community members to share this information widely and reminds parents that if they feel unable to safely care for their child, they should call 911 for assistance rather than abandoning them.