A missing 16-year-old girl from North Carolina, USA was rescued by Kentucky police after she used a hand signal learned from TikTok to alert that she was in danger. According to police, the hand gesture known on TikTok is to represent violence at home.
The teenager from Asheville, North Carolina was reported missing on Tuesday, her parents lodged the complaint. According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office in Kentucky, the teenager was inside a silver-colored Toyota car when a passerby a motorist saw her making the hand gestures. He then immediately called 911 to report seeing a girl in distress in a vehicle on the interstate.
Reportedly the Sheriff’s statement read, “The complainant was behind the vehicle and noticed a female passenger in the vehicle making hand gestures that are known on the social media platform ‘Tik Tok’ to represent violence at home — I need help — domestic violence.”
“The complainant advised 911 that the female appeared to be in distress. In addition, the complainant noted that the vehicle was being driven by a male subject,” the police added to his statement.
The Canadian Women’s Foundation launched the hand gesture for someone to use in time of distress.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SIGNAL
Isolation can increase the risk of violence at home. Use this discrete gesture during a video call to show you need help:
1. Hold hand up with palm facing other person.
2. Tuck thumb into palm.
3. Fold fingers down over thumb. pic.twitter.com/gsIgSbXOmc— Halton Police (@HaltonPolice) August 24, 2021
After informing 911, the motorist then continued to follow the vehicle to update constant location to the police. The officers in call then managed to intercept the vehicle as it exited a highway and rescued the girl, only to find out later that she had been reported missing.
Following the chase, a 61-year-old man named James Herbert Brick was arrested.
The teenager then told the police that she traveled with James through North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and into Ohio. In Ohio, where he met a few of his relatives, they realized that the female in his custody is underage and has been reported missing.
The police stated, “When the male subject’s relatives realised that the female in his custody was under age and reported missing, the accused left Ohio traveling southbound and the female juvenile then began attempting to get motorists attention to call 911.”
During further investigation, the police found photos of a juvenile female in a sexual manner on Mr Brick’s phone. Following the arrest he has been charged with unlawful imprisonment and possession of material showcasing a sex performance by a minor aged between 12 and 18.
Ms Kalinga