Indy police help 18-year-old escape human trafficking at north side hotel: docs

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis man is under arrest after police say officers helped an 18-year-old escape from being human trafficked at a north side hotel.




The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said officers were called Thursday to a hotel in the 9000 block of Wesleyan Road for a welfare check. Upon arrival, officers made contact with an 18-year-old woman who said she was paid by "Johns" to have sex inside a nearby hotel.




Officers reportedly became concerned that the woman was involved in a potential human trafficking situation. She was later taken to the hospital for treatment while IMPD secured the alleged crime scene.




Detectives with IMPD's Human Trafficking Unit were granted a search warrant and eventually found the alleged trafficker and another potential victim. They also found cocaine, weed and "evidence of commercial sex acts," such as cash, boxes of condoms and tubes of KY Jelly.




At the hospital, the 18-year-old victim told police the man in charge of the operation - Lovie Grace - had beaten her the night before. The victim was reportedly upset over not getting paid for sex acts, which caused Grace to hit her with an open hand so many times that she lost count.




The victim, who had bruising on the left side of her face, said she then tried to leave the hotel. However, Grace reportedly grabbed her by the arms and got upset that she stood up without permission. She said she feared what might have happened if she tried to leave.

Officers arrested the 31-year-old Grace on preliminary charges of human trafficking, corrupt business influence and possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to deal. The Marion County Prosecutor will make final charging decisions.




Online court records show Grace has a long criminal history in Indiana.




Since 2017, Grace has been charged in Marion County, Lake County and La Porte County with criminal confinement, battery with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, criminal recklessness, battery of a person less than 14 years old and drug possession.




Most recently, Grace was charged with criminal confinement and domestic battery in Lake County. Those charges were dismissed on March 4, 2025. Records show that, as of 2 p.m. Friday, Grace has an active arrest warrant in Marion County for narcotic drug possession and unlawful carrying of a handgun.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/indy-police-help-18-year-old-escape-human-trafficking-impd/