GLENDALE, Ariz. — A Glendale man is facing sex crime and assault charges after police responded to a 911 call about a woman in chains asking for help.
Officers with the Glendale Police Department responded to a home at 7 a.m. Thursday where the person said the woman was pounding on their window.
The woman told police she was being held in a travel trailer nearby after being kidnapped by her now boyfriend of a year, according to court documents.
The woman told officers her boyfriend, 33-year-old Aaron Andrew Cortez, had punched her in the face several times and whipped her with a charging cord, according to court documents.
The woman said Cortez put chains on her arms and legs and then left the house. That's when she went for help, court documents show.
While investigating, detectives were able to find "an alternate online persona" of the victim using photographs, according to documents. The alternate persona had at least 40 ads posted on prostitution platforms. Some images showed the victim having sex with Cortez while the victim was chained up.
Police said the online persona and details of the victim's and Cortez's relationship were consistent with sex trafficking control tactics. The victim also appeared to be branded with a nickname of Cortez.
Police were able to track Cortez and arrest him. He told police he did chain up the victim but denied assaulting her.
Guns and drugs were found in Cortez's travel trailer, according to court documents. He's facing the following charges:
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- Aggravated assault of a bound/restrained victim
- Kidnapping
- Illegal control of an enterprise
- Transporting for the purpose of prostitution
- Receiving earnings of prostitution
- Weapons possession
- Drug possession
- Drug paraphernalia possession
Police said Cortez previously served time in prison in Wisconsin.
Silent Witness:
Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.
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