Philly police: 14-year-old girl held captive and sold for sex

A Hunting Park man and three others were arrested Tuesday and charged with trafficking and abusing a 14-year-old girl who had run away from home, forcing her to have sex with men after placing an advertisement about her online, according to police.

The girl, who ran away on April 23, was first sexually assaulted by 18-year-old Shaikey Cooper, whom the girl met with because she considered him a friend, police said.

After Cooper assaulted her at his house on the 4200 block of North Eighth Street in Hunting Park, police said, he took her to the North Philadelphia home of Reggie Jamal Fields, 23.

There, police said, Cooper and Fantasia Gale, 21, created an internet advertisement offering sex with the girl for money. Over the next two days, police said, the group forced her to have sex with several men against her will.

On April 25, police said, the girl escaped the house, on the 1800 block of North 20th Street, while the others were sleeping. She went to Temple University Hospital and told staff and police about the assaults, authorities said.

Cooper, Fields, and Gale, of the 1200 block of South 32nd Street in Grays Ferry, were arrested this week and charged with offenses including conspiracy, trafficking, and involuntary servitude. Each remained in custody Tuesday on $5 million bail, according to court records. Their attorneys could not immediately be reached or declined to comment.

Shawn Jackson, 23, of the 2900 block of North 12th Street in North Philadelphia, was also arrested and charged with rape, criminal conspiracy, and related counts, police said. He also remained in custody, court records said. His attorney, Joseph L. Coleman, said Jackson had pleaded not guilty and looked "forward to contesting the allegations."

Authorities were looking for Angelo Romero, 24, of the 1600 block of North Worrell Street in Juniata Park, although they did not specify potential charges he might face.

Police said the girl, who was later taken to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, was no longer hospitalized but was recovering and safe.