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Ypsilanti woman escapes human traffickers by stealing a vehicle up north

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Posted at 4:27 PM, Jan 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-19 17:39:30-05

(WXYZ) — An Ypsilanti 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 around 3 a.m. on Friday, 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 she was being forced 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 north from Ypsilanti a few days earlier. There was also alleged drug dealing going on at the home.

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

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

Both remain in the Crawford County Jail.