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Michael Tucker, 46, of Bloomfield (mugshot, above) was being held on $200,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail, charged with human trafficking, promoting prostitution and child endangerment.
The human trafficking charge has grown in use among state authorities and county prosecutors as awareness of the crime has spread.
South Hackensack police, who are responsible for part of the seedy Route 46 “strip,” are among a small number of local agencies who have made it part of their arsenal, as well.
Police who arrested Tucker at the end of January said he brought the girl to the motel for paid sex with strangers after posting photos of her and his phone number on Backpage.com.
“An officer made an undercover appointment and Tucker was taken into custody” at the motel, Capt. Robert Kaiser told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Police brought the girl to headquarters, where her parents picked her up, the captain said.
MUGSHOT: Courtesy SOUTH HACKENSACK PD
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