Long Beach police arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of human trafficking after receiving a 911 call from the suspected victim early Thursday morning, authorities said.

The 14-year-old called police at 4:40 a.m., saying she had been pistol whipped on her upper body by the suspect, Doran Welch.

During their investigation, vice detectives determined that the 14-year-old had been driven to Los Angeles to work as a commercial sex worker by her suspected trafficker, police said in a statement Friday. A short while later, Welch transported her to Long Beach where he assaulted her with a firearm, according to investigators.

The juvenile victim was able to provide her location to the dispatcher and patrol officers responded to the area of 15th Street and Pine Avenue, police said.

The victim was treated for her injuries at an area hospital and connected with support services.

Welch was detained without incident at his residence on the 1400 block of Locust Avenue, where police recovered a handgun they believe was used in the assault. He was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking of a minor with violence, procuring a child for lewd and lascivious acts, and assault with a firearm, police said.

Bail was set at $150,000 million. Detectives from the vice investigations detail will be presenting the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration early next week, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call the Long Beach Police Department’s Vice Investigation Detail at (562) 570-7219. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may submit a tip through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smartphone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.

 

Editor’s Note: This story has been edited to reflect a correction of the bail amount issued by police.