The Bend Police Department arrested a man from Vancouver, Washington after a victim contacted the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Around 2:16 a.m. on March 21, 2024, BPD officers responded to a report of a possible sex crime and human trafficking at the Red Lion Inn & Suites at 15 Northeast Butler Market Road.
Deschutes County 911 Dispatch reported that a 31-year-old Salem woman texted the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report she was being forced to engage in commercial sex acts and was being held against her will at the aforementioned motel. Multiple attempts to contact the victim failed.
Officers knocked on the door, identified themselves, and ordered anyone inside to open the door. Once the victim opened the door, she was evacuated. A suspect was taken into custody. BPD identified the suspect as 33-year-old Orlando Smith. In a later interview, the victim reportedly told police that Smith had punched her in the face multiple times and forced her to engage in sex acts with several men over two days.
Officers found an online ad for the victim and Smith allegedly had more than $1,000 in his possession. Smith was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault and promoting prostitution. He was also cited for a warrant involving a traffic offense in Salem. Smith was booked into the Deschutes County Jail.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.