In the VIDEO below from Sept.15, 2014, LBPD says the female minor is with the two male suspects wearing a black T-shirt and red tank top.

LBPD released still image from video below

To view the source VIDEO, click icon below.

The suspects' vehicle can be seen in a second video (below) in the upper left corner of the video frame. It appears to be a new white four-door sedan seen leaving the parking lot after the suspects and the victim walked out of a retail store.

LBPD says it is "attempting to identify these suspects and is asking anyone with information regarding these suspects to contact LBPD's Vice Investigations Detail at (562) 570-7219. Anonymous tips may also be submitted by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting DIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.

LBPD also issued a release stating in pertinent part:

[LBPD release text] Human sex trafficking is the second largest international crime industry (behind illegal drugs) and reportedly generates profits of nearly $32 billion dollars each year.

In January 2014, the Long Beach City Council recognized the need to bolster the Police Department's efforts towards combating this modern day slavery, and provided discretionary funding to help support this task force. In February of 2014, the Human Sex Trafficking Task Force was implemented and the Department partnered with multiple agencies with the goal of impacting human trafficking through:

The identification and rescue of commercially sexually exploited children and adult victims

Providing victims services through community based non-profit organizations

The identification, arrest and conviction of the persons profiting from this horrendous crime and those who use the services of sexually exploited minors

The LBPD's Vice Investigations Detail developed a plan of action which included the following:

Provided training and education to other specialized detectives throughout the department to create a force multiplier. This cadre of experienced investigators assisted in several multi-agency human trafficking operations.

Conducted presentations to several community groups such as the PTA, churches and neighborhood associations, in an effort to increase public awareness.

Created an informational brochure to help educate the community regarding human trafficking.

Collaborated with multiple victim advocacy groups to assist with victim resources, which was a critical component in helping to provide victims with immediate and long-term assistance.

As of today, the task force operation culminated in a total of 91 arrests, which are broken down as follows:

20 human trafficking arrests
8 pimping arrests
24 assisting a prostitute arrests
29 "John" program arrests
10 arrests for internet crimes against children - *arrests made through our partnership with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC)

...Other notable statistics include:

22 minors between the ages of 12 and 17 were rescued
54 women were referred to victim resources and support services

Additional facts regarding this operation:

LBPD's Vice Investigations Section filed more human trafficking cases than any other agency in Los Angeles County, and are on track to achieve this distinction for a second year in a row

Over 60% of the suspects arrested for human trafficking related offenses are documented gang members and many cases resulted in successful gang enhancements being filed

Several commercially sexually exploited children were runaways from as far away as Arizona, Nevada, Michigan and New York, and LBPD was able to reunite many of them with their families

Numerous victims were assisted with residence relocation and tattoo removal

LBPD participated in the recent development of the "Law Enforcement First Responder Protocol for Commercially Sexually Exploited Children" which provides standardized guidelines for care of minor victims

In our partnership with LAPD and their Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the 10 arrests that were made were of men who had arranged to meet who they believed was a minor, for sex. In one of the cases, the suspect arranged to have sex with two children under 10 years of age. After he was arrested, detectives searched the trunk of his vehicle and found a large roll of carpeting, several rolls of duct tape, handcuffs, and a magazine loaded with bullets

To view the full release, click here.

For extended VIDEO of the salient portion of the Sept. 24 news conference, click VIDEO below: