Police made multiple arrests after stopping a U-Haul with 7 children in the back enduring unsanitary conditions
People rent U-Hauls for all sorts of reasons. They could be moving, and some people even use them when traveling. However, police recently conducted a traffic stop in Missouri and made a startling discovery when they discovered several kids were in the back of the truck. Two men were then arrested as the police officers investigated the vehicle and figured out the next steps.
This traffic stop unearthed some horrifying findings
Being subjected to a traffic stop isn’t a rare occurrence. This is one of the many ways police officers keep the streets safe. According to WBRC News, police officers in Missouri pulled over a U-Haul on September 29th for a moving violation. Reports say that Shaikiem Bristol, 31, was driving and told the police officers that he and Musa Omar, 22, were going to Buffalo, New York. They were traveling with a girl who from Arizona who they say had been kicked out of her home by her parents.
The law enforcement officer also noticed two women in the U-Haul. Bristol told them one was his sister and the other was his fiancee. However, the police officer conducting the traffic stop became suspicious after noticing the occupants’ labored breathing and conflicting stories. From here, Bristol gave the police permission to search the vehicle and informed them that there were beds, clothing, multiple adults, and seven children in the back. The ages of the kids ranged from 2 to 13 years old.
As the traffic stop became more severe, the police officer requested backup before opening the rear of the U-Haul. It was then that they saw the unsanitary conditions. The young kids all had dirty diapers, and the back of the U-Haul had no AC. Regarding why they had the kids, Bristol said, “I have no idea why we took the kids. I knew it was going to be hot. That’s why we tried to stop a lot.”
Bristol also says that he and Omar had been taking turns driving. Both men are being held without bond. Currently, multiple agencies are involved. This includes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Family Services.
