Sheriff’s office: Claims are untrue of sex trafficking at store

Lake County Sheriff’s Office refutes social media claims regarding Giant Eagle

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said women are not being targeted by sex traffickers at the Giant Eagle on Mentor Avenue in Painesville Township, contrary to claims being made in recent social media postings.

In a Facebook post of its own on July 6, the Sheriff’s Office said it needed to respond to claims that have been alarming area residents.

“Over the past few days, we have received numerous calls and messages regarding social media postings people have viewed/received alleging that sex traffickers are targeting women at the Giant Eagle in Painesville Township,” Chief Deputy Frank Leonbruno said in the Facebook statement. “The posts allege that women are being followed through the store by sex traffickers, who have waiting vehicles outside the store to snatch them up when they are leaving and whisk them away, never to be seen again.”

In addition, Leonbruno said some of the posts allege that the Sheriff’s Office has responded on numerous occasions, viewed video footage, and confirmed that women are in fact being followed in the store.

“These postings are not true,” Leonbruno said. “They have been floating out on social media for over a month.”

The Sheriff’s Office has not responded to Giant Eagle to investigate such allegations and has not reviewed any camera footage of women being followed through the store.

He also said the Sheriff’s Office has taken no reports and has no reason to believe that sex traffickers are targeting the Painesville Township Giant Eagle.

“Months ago, we did speak to a woman who thought she had been followed the day before and only wanted to report her concerns,” Leonbruno said. “In follow-ups with Giant Eagle management, there have been no other reports of woman being followed through the store. Further, we have no reports of any person missing in our area.”