Interdiction Stop Leads to Sex Trafficking Charges

MEMPHIS --- A routine traffic stop by a state trooper assigned to the West Tennessee Drug Task Force’s Interstate Interdiction Unit led to the arrest of a Texas man on sex crimes charge.

 

On Sunday, December 18th, Trooper Brad Simpson stopped a 2005 Escalade headed eastbound on Interstate-40 at the 43 mile marker in Haywood County for traffic violations. Once the vehicle was stopped, Trooper Simpson noticed both the adult male driver and a juvenile male passenger appeared nervous and gave conflicting stories about their travels. Further investigation revealed the 16-year-old juvenile passenger was reported as a runaway from the Dallas area. Trooper Simpson contacted the Memphis Police Department Sex Crimes Unit when further investigation indicated possible criminal activity occurred in the Memphis area earlier that day.

 

Steven Geer, age 40, of Dallas was arrested and transported to Memphis. He was charged with especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor (class B felony), aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor (class C felony), sexual exploitation of a minor (class D felony), aggravated statutory rape, (class D felony) and criminal exposure to HIV (class C felony). Geer is being held in the Shelby County Jail. The juvenile passenger is in protective custody and will be released to his parents. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.

 

West Tennessee Drug Task Force Director David McGriff credited the trooper’s instincts for leading to the arrest. “We train our officers to look for suspicious activity, and when something just doesn’t seem quite right, to keep investigating. That’s what happened in this case. Today a suspect is in jail on sexual assault charges, and the victim is now in a safe place,” McGriff said.

 

“This is an example of how our interstate interdiction officers are not only on the lookout for drug trafficking, but also human sex trafficking, which is a serious problem in our state,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons.

 

Earlier this year, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released a study on human sex trafficking in Tennessee and its impact on children and youth. The study showed that simply because of its geographical position and the large number of interstates that cross the state, Tennessee is conducive to sex trafficking.

 

The West Tennessee Drug Task Force formed a partnership with the Tennessee Highway Patrol in which state troopers are assigned to the Interstate Interdiction Unit.

 

The West Tennessee Drug Task Force is a joint agency comprised of law enforcement officers assigned from various law enforcement agencies in three of West Tennessee’s judicial districts. The judicial districts include the 28th Judicial District (Crockett, Gibson, and Haywood Counties); the 29th Judicial District (Dyer and Lake Counties); and the 30th Judicial District (Shelby County). Additionally, six agents work solely for the Task Force and not for separate law enforcement agencies. The Task Force is administered by District Attorney General Garry Brown of the 28th Judicial District; District Attorney General Phillip Bivens of the 29th Judicial District; and District Attorney General Amy Weirich of the 30th Judicial District.