In a gritty crackdown on the vile scourge of child sex trafficking, the San José Police Department has apprehended a 22-year-old suspect. Per the department's report, officers from both the San José and East Palo Alto police departments coordinated efforts to dismantle what appears to be a deeply entrenched operation.

After escaping from authorities during a vehicle enforcement stop on April 20, Jolaun Canton, a San José resident, was caught and cuffed following a foot pursuit when the police found a ghost gun on him. Previously sought by the San José Police Department Human Trafficking Task Force, Canton now faces charges that are far more severe, including child sex trafficking, on top of evading officers and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The abduction and subsequent trafficking horror unfolded when a juvenile female was reported missing on February 25 in East Palo Alto. A month later, she was discovered confined in a trunk at a San José residence, a clear victim of despicable coercion into commercial sex acts.

With information obtained by the San José Police Department, detectives worked through leads that pegged Canton as the mastermind behind the sex trafficking operation. Once in the custody of police officers, who initially held him for unrelated crimes, further investigation gave way to adding the trafficking charges with the help of the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.

The concerted efforts of the SJPD and EPAPD were praised for bringing the terrorized female survivor to safety. Their partnership was publicly recognized by the San José Police Department.

Authorities are calling on the public for further assistance. Anyone with additional insights into Canton's activities or related incidents is encouraged to step forward. Detective Reyes of the SJPD Special Victims Unit Human Trafficking Task Force is the primary contact, and anonymous tipsters can share their information through various channels, including the P3TIPS mobile app, bolstered by potential cash rewards from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program for information leading to arrests.