Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Pelham Police Department arrested William Guy Long, age 46, on charges of first-degree human trafficking and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act on Thursday, Jan. 4.

Long was arrested in a joint operation between Pelham Police Department detectives and Homeland Security Investigations at a local motel in the Pelham area.

According to a release posted to social media by Pelham PD, authorities took the action following information that was received from the Hoover Police Department.

That information, received within eight hours of Long’s arrest, consisted of reports that an individual was attempting to procure a minor child for sexual activity.

“We are grateful for the Hoover Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and citizens who assist law enforcement,” Pelham police officials said in a post.

Playing a part in the arrest, HSI is the principal investigative force of the United States Department of Homeland Security. They are keenly focused on the investigation, disruption and dismantling of terrorist and criminal organizations that threaten or exploit customs and immigration laws in the United States.

Under that purview, they are often involved in the investigation and combating of child sexual exploitation, human trafficking and human smuggling.

Furthermore, the release from the Pelham Police Department also assures and confirms that no specific child was ever in imminent danger.

A resident of Bay Minette, a city 35 miles northeast of Mobile, Long is now being held with no bond in the Shelby County Jail. No information regarding Long’s court date has yet been made available.