HAMILTON COUNTY – Five men face charges and seven women accepted services following a two-day operation to address human trafficking in the Chattanooga area. There was a total of 21 encounters with individuals during this operation.

The operation on August 25^th and 26^thwas a partnership between the TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit, the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Chattanooga Police Department, the Office of 11^th Judicial District Attorney General Coty Wamp, and Grow Free Tennessee. Authorities worked to rescue potential trafficking victims, while identifying those engaged in trafficking, promoting, recruiting, or soliciting others for the purpose of commercial sex.

Those arrested and/or receiving citations include:

• David Acevedo (DOB 6-19-1998): Simple Possession, Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon, Drug Paraphernalia, Promoting ProstitutionDavid is  special education teacher at Calvin Donaldson Elementary in Hamilton County.

  Hamilton County Schools confirmed Acevedo’s involvement and suspended him without pay on August 29 pending an investigation.

• Jermaine Suttles (DOB 9-6-1981): Promoting Prostitution
• Ian Strebeck (DOB 10-21-1989): Promoting Prostitution, Drug Paraphernalia
• Jonathan Harris (DOB 9-19-1979): Promoting Prostitution
• Brandon Nichols (DOB 7-18-1990): Manufacture/Sale/Delivery of Schedule II – Fentanyl

As a result of the operation, seven women were offered and accepted services from Grow Free Tennessee. Several other individuals declined services and/or were cited or arrested on outstanding, unrelated warrants during the operation.

Learn more about human trafficking, Tennessee’s approach to the crime, and the warning signs and what to do if they’re spotted online at www.ITHasToStop.com.