ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Two men have been arrested after the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office says the duo transported a 17-year-old girl, who had run away, to a hotel in Kannapolis for prostitution.
The ordeal began on Saturday, Feb. 8, when deputies responded to a call regarding two unrelated runaways, a 13-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl, from the Rockwell area.
Deputies were able to locate the missing 13-year-old girl on Sunday, Feb. 9, at a business along Jake Alexander Blvd. Once in custody, the young teen girl led deputies to believe that the other missing 17-year-old girl had been transported to Kannapolis for prostitution.
Authorities soon identified a home along 11th Street in Salisbury where the minors had been staying. Surveillance was set up in the area of the home. Further interviews revealed the 17-year-old girl was taken to a hotel to engage in prostitution, Kannapolis Police said.
Law enforcement swarmed the hotel and was able to safely take the 17-year-old girl into custody, as well as arrest two men, Xavier Alexander Rushing, 25, and Bailey Tyler Richardson, 25, who were at the Kannapolis hotel with her.
Both men have been charged with promoting the prostitution of a minor. Rushing has a criminal history dating back to 2020 that includes kidnapping, police said. He’s being held without bond.
Richardson also has a criminal history dating back to 2016 that includes felony breaking and entering and felony larceny, police said. He’s being held on a $500,000 bond.
This case is another example of the dedicated work done by our Patrol Squads each day. The amount of detailed work that a case like this requires is substantial.
For a Patrol Squad to be able to complete a major case like this as well as answer calls for service shows a willingness to work above and beyond what is required.
Many of them worked extra hours to make sure these juveniles were safe. I am proud of the men and women of this Office who give so much to our community
