On Jan. 25, 2017, at approximately 10:35pm, a New Braunfels Police officer on patrol in the 1400 block of I-35 North conducted a traffic stop for speeding on a black Chevrolet Impala. While contacting the driver, the officer noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, so the driver (a 30-year old black male) and the passenger (a 14-year old Hispanic female) were detained. As that traffic stop continued, it was learned that the juvenile female passenger was listed as a runaway out of Dallas and it was discovered that she had numerous escort ads posted on the internet which indicated she had been involved in prostitution in Austin, San Antonio, and Louisiana.
Further investigation at the scene revealed that the driver of the vehicle had attempted to conceal marijuana from the officer during the traffic stop, and that he was involved in facilitating and benefitting from the juvenile female’s involvement in prostitution. The driver, identified as 30-year old Roderick Tasby of Dallas, was then arrested on charges of Tampering with Evidence (3rd degree felony), Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor), and Failure to ID (Class B Misdemeanor). He was taken to the Comal County Jail and bond was set at $12,000.
Based on the information obtained during the original traffic stop, the ongoing investigation by NBPD’s Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.), and with the cooperation of the Comal County District Attorney’s Office, on today’s date (Jan. 27, 2017) an arrest warrant was signed, charging Tasby with Human Trafficking, a 1st degree felony (Trafficking of Persons - TPC 20A.02). The arrest warrant alleges that Tasby intentionally and knowingly transported the juvenile female in a vehicle in support of prostitution, and that Tasby allegedly benefitted monetarily from her involvement in prostitution. That arrest warrant was served at the Comal County Jail and an additional bond of $300,000 was issued.
The investigation into this case continues by the New Braunfels Police Department C.I.D. The juvenile female has since been reunited with family members and is currently receiving victim services from the New Braunfels Police Department and various other agencies.