NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — After an Amber Alert was issued for an 11-year-old girl Monday evening, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office tweeted around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday that Montana "Jordan" Breseman was located and is safe in Tampa.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco gave more details on the investigation at a press conference Tuesday.
Sheriff Nocco began by thanking community members and fellow law enforcement agencies for their help in safely locating Montana.
The sheriff said Montana was located in Hillsborough County at the home of an adult male who she perceived as her boyfriend.
While the investigation is still underway, Nocco said multiple arrests have already been made, including the two people seen in the previously released surveillance footage from the 7-Eleven near River Ridge Middle School where Montana was last seen before she went missing.
Reginald Clark, 19, from Jacksonville, and a 17-year-old boy from Clearwater have both been charged with interference with child custody, which is a felony.
Luis Alberto Encarnacion, 22, from Tampa, is the man who deputies say Montana perceived as her boyfriend. Encarnacion faces six charges, including concealing the location of a minor.
“In her mind, she thought Luis was her boyfriend. We all know that’s not real. That’s not real-- that an 11-year-old has a 22-year-old boyfriend," Nocco said.
“What is real is that Luis, this 22-year-old, acted like a predator on this little child."
Sheriff Nocco said detectives believe Montana met and communicated with the three men through social media, but are still working to see if there is a connection between Encarnacion, Clark, and the 17-year-old boy.
The sheriff said he believes that “numerous adverse childhood experiences” led Montana to seek what she thought was stability in Encarnacion. He mentioned that Montana is not in the custody of her parents or any other family member.
Nocco emphasized that the sheriff's office is working with child protection agencies to get Montana the help and resources she needs to be in the best situation long-term.
He also urged parents to talk to their children about human trafficking and monitor what their children are doing online in order to avoid situations like this from happening in the future.
You can watch the Pasco County Sheriff's Office full update below.
Anyone, regardless of an area event occurring, that suspects they are potentially witnessing a human trafficking incident can report it by texting CTYTIP to TIP411 (847411), or by dialing 211 for immediate help.
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