The search for a missing 17-year-old girl led to the arrest of a man suspected of arranging to meet the teen at a motel for “lewd purposes,” Long Beach police said today.
According to the Long Beach Police Department, relatives reported the teenager missing on March 11, saying she had last been seen a week earlier. Detectives were able to track her to a motel in the 4000 block of Long Beach Boulevard, where she was found on April 4 along with a 29-year-old man, police said.
The man, identified as Joshua Stephen Brown, was arrested on suspicion of arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd purposes, police said. According to jail records, Brown was released on his own recognizance the same day.
“This case is a testament to the relentless work and dedication of our detectives and officers,” Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish said in a statement. “Their efforts led to the safe recovery of a missing teenager and the arrest of the suspect. I commend them for their exceptional police work and unwavering commitment to public safety.”
Anyone with additional information regarding the case was urged to contact the Drug Investigations Section at 562-570-7125. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.