ROCKINGHAM ― Police have released more details related to the arrest of a man charged with human trafficking in South Carolina.
Investigators with the Rockingham Police Department say they received a call Tuesday from Walmart regarding a suspicious note left behind.
A young man had received out-of-state funds from the Money Center and dropped a note saying he had been kidnapped, which the teller didn’t read until after he had left, investigators say. After reading it, the teller told a manager, who called police.
While reviewing security footage, officers say they saw three individuals, including the alleged victim and 31-year-old Johnny Ricardo Donovan Thomas, as well as the vehicle they were in.
The license plate came back registered the alleged victim with a BOLO for Thomas out of Myrtle Beach in a human trafficking case, investigators say.
While officers were investigating, they say they received another call from Walmart, reporting that the vehicle was back.
Police quickly went to execute a traffic stop, where they found two women in the car, according to investigators. During questioning, the women said that Thomas and the alleged victim were at a home on Elizabeth Avenue.
Around a dozen patrol cars from the RPD and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office zoomed down Broad Avenue to Rockingham Road, then to Long Drive and Richmond Road.
While knocking on doors in the neighborhood, police found Jarmaine Antwan Sesson, who was wanted on a fugitive warrant from another state.
A deputy also got into a scuffle with Garrison Cook, who had needles in his possession.
Also during the door-to-door search, investigators say Thomas and the alleged victim walked up to deputies for directions to the nearest gas station and to ask what was going on.
“Luckily, the deputies were able to recognize and detain him” based on the descriptions that had been given out, said Detective Lt. George Gillenwater.
Because the alleged crimes happened outside of Rockingham’s jurisdiction, no charges will be filed against any of those involved, Gillenwater said.
Chief Billy Kelly thanks the sheriff’s office for its help during the investigation.
The RPD is assisting the Myrtle Beach Police Department and FBI in the investigation.
Thomas is currently in the Richmond County Jail awaiting extradition.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
