Brooklyn Center shuts down three hotels after trafficking probe and crime surge
Brooklyn Center on Friday revoked the business licenses of two hotels and suspended a third, effectively shutting the properties amid a human trafficking, drugs and firearms probe.[1]
City officials said the licensing action shifts the response from investigation toward enforcement rather than leaving the hotels merely boarded up.[1] Police executed 31 search warrants during early-morning raids: 17 at the Travelodge, 12 at the Super 8, and one each at the Baymont and Suburban Studios.[2] More than 250 personnel and seven SWAT teams took part in the operation.[2] Investigators recovered eight firearms, a significant quantity of suspected controlled substances, about $43,494 in cash and seized many cell phones whose digital evidence is still being analyzed.[3] The raids led to 28 arrests and investigators have identified 18 trafficking victims, who are being connected with social services and addiction specialists.[3]
On Sept. 9, officers carried out the early-morning raids that sparked the multiagency probe into trafficking, drugs and firearms at the hotels.[4] Police initially identified 17 women and underage girls as trafficking victims during the operation.[2] An 18th victim came forward later, bringing the identified victim tally to 18.[3] Brooklyn Center police say the Super 8 and Travelodge generated nearly 2,300 calls for service between January 2025 and August 2026, and both properties have since been boarded up.[3] Investigators have not yet filed criminal charges in the 28 arrests, and nearly all people booked after the operation have been released.[3]
A separate federal civil lawsuit filed in 2023 alleges a 2013 sex-trafficking incident at the Brooklyn Center Super 8 and claims staff saw signs of abuse yet failed to act, a case that helped put that hotel under scrutiny.[5] Subsequent FOX 9 updates documented the Sept. 9 raids, the growing victim count and the seizures, and Friday's licensing revocations represent a municipal enforcement step rather than continued investigation alone.[3][1] Three lead agencies — the Brooklyn Center Police Department, Hennepin County investigators and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension — remain jointly on the case as authorities analyze digital evidence and coordinate services for identified victims.[3]
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📌 Key Facts
- Brooklyn Center has formally revoked the business licenses of two hotels and suspended a third, a licensing action that effectively shuts the properties down rather than leaving them merely boarded up (Brooklyn Center revokes licenses).
- Police executed 31 search warrants across the Travelodge (17), Super 8 (12), Baymont (1) and Suburban Studios (1) during early-morning raids tied to the probe, an operation that deployed more than 250 personnel and seven SWAT teams (31 search warrants).
- Investigators recovered evidence including eight firearms (updated), a “significant quantity” of suspected controlled substances, about $43,494 in cash and a large number of seized cell phones whose digital evidence is still being analyzed (eight firearms).
- The raids resulted in 28 arrests, but as of September 23 none of those arrested have been formally charged and nearly all booked individuals have since been released, highlighting a gap between arrest totals and filed charges (28 arrests).
- Police identified 17 women and underage girls as human trafficking victims during the Sept. 9 hotel raids and an 18th victim later came forward, with reported victim ages ranging from 18 to 56; authorities say victims are being connected with social services and addiction specialists (18th victim).
- Three lead case agents — Brooklyn Center Police Department, Hennepin County and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) — are jointly working the trafficking/drugs/firearms probe, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says it is in regular contact with investigators (three lead case agents).
- A federal civil lawsuit filed in 2023 alleges a 15-year-old girl was sex-trafficked at the Brooklyn Center Super 8 in 2013 — forced to see between seven and 20 men a day — and claims staff observed trafficking indicators (bruising, a minor in provocative clothing, blood on linens) yet failed to act; the plaintiff escaped, two traffickers were arrested, and she is now suing the former owners/operators and the Super 8 franchise (federal civil lawsuit).
- Brooklyn Center police say the Super 8 and Travelodge generated nearly 2,300 calls for service between January 2025 and August 2026; city officials have noted that call volume alone is not sufficient grounds for closure without paired regulatory violations, and the Oct. 16 licensing action represents a shift from investigation to enforcement (licensing action).
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Brooklyn Center has now formally revoked the business licenses of two hotels and suspended a third over crime and safety concerns.
- The city’s licensing action effectively shuts the properties down rather than leaving them merely boarded pending investigation.
- This represents a direct regulatory response to the crime and trafficking problems previously documented at the Travelodge, Super 8 and related properties, moving from investigation to enforcement.
- An 18th trafficking victim has come forward since the Sept. 9 Brooklyn Center hotel raids, bringing the total to 18, with ages 18 to 56.
- Two weeks after the operation, none of the 28 people arrested — including a Travelodge employee — has yet been formally charged.
- Investigators have now recovered eight firearms, more than $43,494 in cash, a significant quantity of drugs, and a large number of seized cell phones whose digital evidence is still being analyzed.
- Three lead case agents (Brooklyn Center PD, Hennepin County, and BCA) are jointly working the case; Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says it is in regular contact and not surprised no cases have been submitted yet.
- Brooklyn Center police say the Super 8 and Travelodge generated nearly 2,300 calls for service between January 2025 and August 2026, and the city is now weighing suspension or revocation of the hotels’ licenses under its hotel ordinance.
- Both the Super 8 and Travelodge remain boarded up; city officials say call volume alone is not sufficient grounds for closure and must be paired with other regulatory violations.
- Commander Richard Gabler publicly acknowledged the risk that uncharged suspects and trafficking victims could reconnect, but argued rushing charges would undermine the case.
- Police are coordinating with Hennepin County social services and addiction specialists to provide resources and protection for the identified victims.
- Police now say 17 women and underage girls were identified as human trafficking victims during the Sept. 9 Brooklyn Center hotel raids and are being connected with services.
- Officers executed 31 search warrants in total: 17 at the Travelodge, 12 at the Super 8, one at the Baymont and one at Suburban Studios.
- The operation led to 28 arrests, recovery of seven firearms, a “significant quantity” of suspected controlled substances and about $43,494 in cash.
- More than 250 personnel and seven SWAT teams took part in the early-morning hotel raids, which police say ended without any injuries.
- As of the update, FOX 9 could identify only about a dozen people booked into Hennepin County Jail, nearly all of whom have since been released and none yet formally charged, highlighting the gap between arrest numbers and filed charges.
- A federal civil lawsuit filed in 2023 alleges a 15-year-old girl was sex trafficked at the Brooklyn Center Super 8 in 2013, forced to see between seven and 20 men a day over multiple days.
- The complaint says hotel staff observed widely taught trafficking indicators — visible bruising from beatings, a minor in provocative clothing in common areas, and blood on towels and linens — yet allegedly failed to act.
- The plaintiff ultimately escaped by secretly using her trafficker’s laptop to message for help; two traffickers were arrested soon after, and she is now suing the former owners/operators and the Super 8 franchise in federal court.
- In court filings, the former operators deny knowing about or profiting from trafficking at the hotel.
- Brooklyn Center Police Chief Garett Flesland said the current trafficking/drug/firearms investigation at the same Super 8 began about a year ago and described it as the most complex and large-scale probe of his 26-year career; no staff were arrested during Wednesday’s raid, and possible staff involvement remains under investigation.