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Michigan woman says she stole a car in order to escape alleged human traffickers, police say

Posted at 7:46 AM, Jan 15, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-15 09:46:39-05

A Michigan woman said she escaped two human traffickers from their home up north last week.

According to Michigan State Police, troopers were called to a home in northern Michigan around 3 a.m. on Jan. 10, to investigate the alleged human trafficking case.

Roscommon County Sheriff's deputies said they had a woman in custody for stealing a vehicle, but the woman said she escaped a home where two men forced her to clean and perform acts of prostitution.

The woman told troopers she was being held against her will by two suspects, identified as James Jarrell and Jeffrey Kobel, both 50 and from Roscommon.

She said she had been brought three hours north from Ypsilanti to Roscommon County a few days earlier.

There was also alleged drug dealing going on at the residence.

The MSP Emergency Support Team and other agencies executed a search warrant at the house and arrested both men.

Police charged Jarrell with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of unlawful imprisonment and one count of habitual offender fourth offense. Police charged Kobel with one count of unlawful imprisonment and habitual offender third offense.

Both remain in the Crawford County Jail.