A teenager girl was rescued by the authorities thanks to a hand signal that she leaned on TikTok.
The girl, who was not named, used a hand signal to warn a driver that she was in trouble.
The motorist realized that the hand signal meant violence and was calling for help, they alerted the police right away, who ended up pulling over and arresting 61-year-old James Brick.
Brick was then charged with unlawful imprisonment after he was found with the missing teen in the back of his truck in Lauren County, Kentucky.
The police also found and searched his phone, where they found sexual material involving a juvenile female.
The police also charged him with possession of matter sex performance by a minor over the age of 12 but under the age of 18.
John Root, the Sheriff of the Laurel County, said that officers were dispatched to observe a silver Toyota, which was being driven by Brick.
Brick is originally from Cherokee, North Carolina.
Sheriff Root said:
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 ‘TikTok’ 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.
Once the car was stopped, the police got involved right away.
Sheriff Root added:
It was learned through investigation that the female passenger was a reported missing juvenile – reported by her parents on Tuesday morning missing from Asheville, North Carolina. The female juvenile told Sheriff’s investigators that she had gotten with the male subject and traveled through North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and into Ohio where the accused had relatives. When the male subject’s relatives realized 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.
Sheriff Root and the police did not reveal the sign that was used by the teen to notify the passing-by driver that she was in trouble.