Father and Daughter Involved in Human Trafficking Mix-Up

Human trafficking is a serious issue in Ontario.

Ontario and Nova Scotia are the only provinces in Canada that have human trafficking rates above the national average. The Highway 401 corridor has been highlighted by anti-human trafficking organizations and law enforcement for years as an area with significant human trafficking activity.

So, when police get a report of a potential case, they respond promptly.

What started as a simple father-daughter coffee outing last week turned into a human trafficking investigation in Guelph. Jonathan Puddle and his daughter Emmi found themselves at the heart of the inquiry after a concerned young man alerted the police.

Guelph Police Detective, Staff Sergeant Melanie Clark explained what made the young man uneasy.

“They observed a male and a female, just having a coffee, having a conversation. There was some conversation that was overheard in combination with the older male and younger female that caused concern for them. So, they subsequently called the Guelph Police Service.”

The Guelph police launched an investigation, opting to release security camera footage of Puddle and his daughter in hopes of getting help from the public to identify them.

Clark stated this is standard procedure.

“We did not have an identification of the male and female in question. We did not know who they were. In order to ensure the safety of that female, and that was our only goal, we released it to the media to have the community assist us with that.”

The images rapidly circulated on social media, but police didn’t confirm if tips from the public led to identifying Puddle.

Once officers managed to reach him, he shared what had taken place. They also spoke with Emmi. The inquiry was soon closed, with Puddle commenting about police on Facebook, “They were very kind and have removed the post… saying to me, ‘Yeah, she’s obviously your daughter; you guys look very much alike.’”

A Positive Outcome

Despite all this chaos, Puddle has shown no resentment towards either law enforcement or the young man who initially raised concerns.

In another Facebook post, Puddle mentioned he had spoken with the young man (who identified himself as Logan), saying, “To hear that he was worried all week goes to show the quality of some of today’s young people. I love this new generation; they’re advocacy-minded in a deeply integrous way.”

Puddle added, “I’m thankful for the young folks who approached us and subsequently called the police – if any of my kids had been in danger, I would hope for everyone to have their eyes open and not be too embarrassed to say something.”

Meanwhile, Clark noted that Guelph Police along with services throughout Ontario are working hard to educate people on how to recognize human trafficking signs and what actions to take when they spot it. Clark believes their message is making an impact.

“The fact that these conversations are being had makes me believe that what we are doing is working and the community is becoming more aware and educated about what human trafficking is. It does take a community to police this and help us with this.”

February 22 was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

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