GROVETOWN, Georgia – Around 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23rd, a 31-year-old woman ran into the hallway of the Grovetown Police Department and told officers that she was a victim of human trafficking and had been held against her will for months.
She told the police that she was taken to different towns in Georgia and forced to work as a prostitute. She then said that she had been held against her will at 4446 Grove Landing Way in Grovetown for two weeks.
Police say the woman told them that the suspect, 36-year-old Joe Lewis Hills, Jr., brought her to Grovetown.
She said that Hills picked her up in Macon, took her to Savannah, and then finally to Grovetown. The woman said that Hills has physically abused her many times since she moved to Grovetown, including choking her until she passed out. He also threatened to hurt her again if she didn’t keep working as a prostitute, both at home and away from home.
It was also said by the woman that someone had “branded” her body.
Police say the woman told them on Tuesday that she told Hills she had to meet a “john” and then called a ride-sharing service.
She told the driver to take her to the Grovetown Police Department after they picked her up.
Using license plate readers, investigators were able to confirm that the victim had traveled with the suspect from Macon to Savannah and then to Grovetown as she had told them.
The investigators then called the local FBI field office, which sent a Human Trafficking Agent to help.
The victim gave the agent enough information to back up what she said, and the agent also said that this is part of a bigger human trafficking organization that has ties all over the State.
Authorities say Hills called and texted the victim’s phone a lot while she was talking to them.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out.
Investigators set up monitoring of the Grove Landing home while she was being questioned for her.
Around 5:54 p.m. on Tuesday, Hills was seen leaving the house. He was stopped for speeding and arrested without any problems.
During the search, drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and two guns were found, along with other drugs. The suspect is currently on Federal Probation for two bank thefts, which was found when his record was checked.
He was taken to the Columbia County Detention Center after being arrested on charges of Trafficking in Persons for Sexual Service.
Having cocaine on you
Having methamphetamine on you
Having marijuana on you
2 counts of having a gun while a convicted felon
The investigation is still going on, and more charges and arrests are likely as more people involved are found.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office was ready to help with entry into the house if needed, which the Grovetown Police Department respects. Please call the Grovetown Police Department at 706-863-1212 if you know anything about this case or any other cases regarding human trafficking.
