Man Accused Of Forcing Woman Into Prostitution, Westlake Cops Say

WESTLAKE, OH — A bus traveling through Westlake made an urgent stop after a woman accused another passenger of forcing her into prostitution. Police have arrested the man and launched an investigation into the accusations.

On Tuesday afternoon, Lakefront Bus Lines was running a bus through Northeast Ohio when it stopped in Westlake. A woman on the bus had told the driver she was being held against her will by another passenger. The bus line then contacted Westlake police.

Officers arrived and immediately separated the woman from her accused captor. The woman said she had been forced into prostitution by the other passenger, a man from Peoria, Illionis. She said they had traveled through several states while "working."

The man denied the allegations and insisted they were just a couple that likes to travel.

Police investigated the claims and then took the man into custody. He is currently being charged with felony promoting prostitution.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

Westlake Police and the Cuyahoga County Human Trafficking Task Force are still investigating the accusations and gathering evidence to present to a grand jury. Further charges may be brought against the man, police said.

Photo from Shutterstock