A sheriff’s deputy helped save a child in danger of human trafficking in northern Arizona earlier this month.

On Sept. 8, a Navajo County deputy pulled over 35-year-old Julio Ramirez-Felipe on I-40 near Winslow. Authorities say Ramirez-Felipe, a California resident, was traveling with a young boy unrelated to him. During the stop, the deputy noticed signs of human trafficking and saw the child was in danger. Ramirez-Felipe was arrested and booked into Navajo County jail for allegedly assisting in a human smuggling organization.

“I would like to commend my deputy for his exemplary investigative work on this traffic stop. Because of this simple traffic stop and furtherance of his investigation, an innocent child was rescued from danger. Human trafficking is a real issue that affects too many children. Thank you to the men and women who combat these issues every day,” said Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse.

https://www.facebook.com/NCSO.AZ/posts/pfbid0hGMJLAG6M3SNLapzFz22uoofX3WuUXRWZH3DDGZzCzjP6g17TyhPByZ7vKNvzqiFl

Deputy saves a child being trafficked in Navajo County

Holbrook, AZ: On September 8, 2023, a Navajo County Deputy assigned to the Criminal Interdiction Unit conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 40 at milepost 258 in the Winslow area. After an investigation was conducted, it was learned that Julio Ramirez-Felipe (35) of Greenfield, CA, was traveling with a juvenile boy who was not related or known to him. Ramirez-Felipe was arrested and booked into Navajo County Jail for Assisting in Human Smuggling Organization.

Deputies at the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, specifically the deputies assigned to the Criminal Interdiction Unit have received substantial training on recognizing and detecting signs of human trafficking. During the traffic stop, the Deputy utilized their training and was able to determine that the child was in danger and was being trafficked. The Deputy secured the juvenile while Ramirez-Felipe was transported to NCSO Jail. He is currently being held on an immigration detainer. The Criminal Interdiction Unit deputy is working with partnering investigative agencies to further investigate this incident.

There is no specific age, race, or gender that is targeted for human trafficking. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide, including here in Arizona. We are proud of our Deputy for applying his training and saving the juvenile from danger.

Sheriff Clouse stated: “I would like to commend my Deputy for his exemplary investigative work on this traffic stop. Because of this simple traffic stop and furtherance of his investigation, an innocent child was rescued from danger. Human trafficking is a real issue that affects too many children. Thank you to the men and women who combat these issues every day.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/9-11-bucks-county-terrorist-attacks-plea-deal/

"I'm conflicted": Bucks County mother reacts to possible plea deal for 9/11 defendants

A woman reacted to news a possible plea deal may remove the death penalty for some accused of planning the terrorist attacks that killed thousands on U.S. soil on Sept.11, 2001.

"He had a wonderful smile," said Judi Reiss as she sat across her living room from a family portrait. "When he smiled, everyone smiled."

On September 10, 2001, her son Joshua called from New York City to wish his mother and father good night in his hometown of Bucks County.

"His last words for me were, 'You know I love you guys.' And, I said, 'Josh, you know we love you.' He said, 'Of course I know that. Talk to you tomorrow.' And tomorrow never came," Reiss said.

The 23-year-old was working in the World Trade Center, where he died after two planes hit the Twin Towers the next day. Since then, the Reiss family and thousands of others followed the trials of people accused of helping plan those attacks. The Pentagon recently told those families a possible plea deal could take the death penalty off the table for those defendants.

Reiss said she is conflicted.

"My feeling is that, frankly I don't care if they ever breathe air again. It's a waste of my air and our resources, but I don't want to make martyrs out of them either."

She said if the defendants ever become convicts, she wanted none of their supporters to have any reason to celebrate.

"My personal belief is if they would just pass away and their remains are in the ocean where no one could build a shrine to them, we're better off," Reiss said.