Man Arrested in Human Trafficking Investigation,Image Released

Broadcast time: 11:16 AM
Date: Thursday, February 22, 2024
Unit: Sex Crimes
Phone: 416-808-7474
Case #: 2023-2133554


The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a Human Trafficking investigation that commenced in September 2023.
It is alleged that:

•  a woman met a man on an online dating site in 2014
•  the man sexually assaulted the woman and subsequently sex trafficked her
•  the suspect used a combination of deception, coercion, and threats, to sex traffic the woman in Ontario from the beginning of July 2014 to the beginning of August 2014
•  the money earned throughout the trafficking period was turned over to the man

On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, members of the Human Trafficking Unit made an arrest in relation to this investigation in the area of Morningside Avenue and Lawrence Avenue East.
Micah Barrows, 38, of Toronto, was charged with:

1.  Sexual Assault
2.  Secretly observe/Record person for sexual purpose
3.  Trafficking in persons
4.  Financial/Material benefit/Trafficking in persons over 18
5.  Procure illicit sexual intercourse
6.  Attempt or procure person to be a prostitute
7.  Exercise control of a person for prostitution
8.  Live on the avails of prostitution/Victim over 18

He was scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 10 a.m.
Police are concerned there may be additional victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4838 or [email protected], Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Human Trafficking means every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation, for a sexual purpose or forced labour purpose. Victims can be any person, and can be moved across local, provincial or national borders. They can be coerced through violence or the threat of violence against family and friends.

The Human Trafficking Unit of Sex Crimes is dedicated to investigating these crimes against vulnerable members of society. For more information, please visit the Sex Crimes website.

Police would like to encourage all affected individuals to come forward and report Human Trafficking occurrences to police. We want to make sure that everyone has access to support services and an exit strategy, regardless of their decision to proceed criminally.
For more news, visit TPSNews.ca

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By Constable Laura Brabant for Detective Alicia Murray