Man forced woman into escort work: police

A Calgary man arrested in Winnipeg is accused of holding a Quebec woman against her will and making her work as an escort as they travelled west.

The Winnipeg Police Service found a 24-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman in a short-term vacation rental suite on the 300 block of Hargrave Street at about 5:40 p.m. Thursday.

Quebec provincial police had told Winnipeg police she might be a victim of human trafficking.

The WPS said its counter-exploitation unit began investigating and learned the suspect had met the victim in a bar in Montreal in early January and manipulated her into believing they were involved in a romantic relationship.
He allegedly began advertising her sexual services on social media, arranged meets between clients and the woman, and collected money.

Police learned the suspect took the victim to four cities in Ontario this month, before heading west.

“The victim could not leave hotel rooms or vacation rentals in each location as the suspect held her personal identification and cellular phone,” the WPS said in a news release Tuesday. “On several occasions, the suspect physically assaulted the victim to prevent her from leaving.”

On Thursday, the woman contacted a friend in Quebec, who contacted police there before the WPS became involved.

Malik Regele Marc, 24, is charged with trafficking in persons, material benefit from sexual services, procuring a person to provide sexual services, advertising sexual services, forcible confinement and assault. He was detained in custody.

“The victim was provided short-term support while in the company of investigators, and with assistance from the (Quebec provincial police) and community partners in Winnipeg, she was conveyed back to her home province to the care of family members,” Winnipeg police said.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca