Redford man arrested in human trafficking case involving two women in Metro Detroit

A Redford man is behind bars and faces several charges in connection with two cases of human trafficking.

What they're saying:

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said the suspect, 61-year-old Damon Napier, was arrested for trafficking two women in metro Detroit. Both cases happened in Oakland and Macomb Counties. 

Police say Napier had a criminal record going back years in California and Michigan, involving kidnapping and drugs, which Bouchard said is a common component of human trafficking as drugs are used as a control mechanism for victims.

This case came out of an investigation into a missing person in Madison Heights in 2023 that revealed Napier was a drug dealer who befriended the victim.

Police say multiple victims have been identified, but they believe there are more. 

"It is a crime that does not have a particular victim," Bouchard said. 

Damon Napier, 61

Napier faces 10 charges including:

  • 2 counts of human trafficking, enterprise resulting in injury, commercial sexual activity - 15 year felony.
  • 2 counts of transporting a person for the purposes of prostitution - 20-year felony.
  • 2 counts of accepting the earnings of a prostitute - 20-year felony.
  • 1 count of pandering - 20 year felony.
  • 3 counts of criminal sexual conduct in the 3rd degree - 15-year felony.

Napier has a cash bond of nearly $1 million.

Big picture view:

It's the first arrest due to the new Oakland County Human Trafficking Taskforce. The sheriff said the taskforce involves a team effort of not just law enforcement, but the community. 

People can look out for signs of trafficking by being aware of the signs and symptoms. If you see somebody acting in a sort of way, cowarding, submissive, doesn't have the ability to move about alone, and doesn't have their own identification, call the officials. 

Police say it is hard to put a number on the number of trafficking incidents in Michigan due to everything being under the surface. Officials said they know that it is very large, and the cartels are deep into trafficking across the border.

Other times they are homegrown or trafficked in.

The Source: FOX 2 talked with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Oakland CountyCrime and Public Safety