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The following is a joint release from the Gresham Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, Portland Police Bureau, and Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
On Thursday, November 8, 2018, four local law enforcement agencies from across the Portland metro area conducted a joint mission to proactively combat human trafficking and child luring in the region, resulting in 23 individuals being charged with commercial sexual solicitation or child luring crimes.
The mission was conducted at two participating hotels in Hillsboro and Portland, and done in collaboration with regional law enforcement, criminal prosecutors, and community-based partners. The operation focused on coordinated efforts to break a link in the chain of human trafficking by enforcing state and federal laws, and identifying trafficking victims throughout the Portland metro area.
During the mission, undercover investigators communicated online with individuals seeking sexual acts in exchange for money. Investigators scheduled the encounters at area hotels and took suspects into custody when they arrived and attempted to engage in commercial sexual solicitation.
In addition, investigators arrested two individuals at the Hillsboro location when they arrived seeking a sexual encounter with a minor. Walter Renderos Jr., 29 of Portland, was arrested after he communicated with what he believed to be a 16-year-old boy through a social networking app. Toran Tolleson, 21 of Salem, was also arrested after he communicated with what he believed to be a 16-year-old girl through another app. They have both been charged with luring a minor.
Participating agencies were the Gresham Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, Portland Police Bureau, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County District Attorney’s Office, and Washington County Parole & Probation.
This is the second joint human trafficking mission of the year. In June, local law enforcement partnered on another mission that resulted in 37 individuals being charged with commercial sexual solicitation crimes.
The involved agencies wish to thank the local hotels who provided resources and assistance during this operation. For the integrity of future missions, agencies are requesting the locations not be released.
Media interested in obtaining a complete list of the individuals arrested or cited at the two hotels is asked to contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office and Police Police Bureau.