The Brooklyn Center Super 8 hotel raided in a large-scale sex-trafficking investigation was previously named in a federal lawsuit alleging that a 15-year-old girl was exploited there in 2013.
Police arrested 23 people during Wednesday’s operation at the Super 8 and Travelodge on James Circle, as well as two other hotels in the Minnesota city. Officers recovered seven firearms, about 1.5lb of drugs and roughly $9,000 in cash, according to Brooklyn Center police chief Garett Flesland.
Federal lawsuit alleges trafficking at Super 8
The civil case was brought by a woman identified in court documents as T.S., who alleges that traffickers repeatedly forced her to perform commercial sex acts at the Super 8 between August and December 2013.
She claims she was kept at the hotel for days at a time and forced to see between seven and 20 men each day. The lawsuit alleges that staff were aware she was a minor and ignored visible signs of abuse, including bruising and clothing the girl was made to wear.
The complaint also alleges that hotel workers provided extra housekeeping services and unusually large quantities of towels. On some occasions, it claims, blood was found on towels or bed linen.
T.S. says she eventually escaped by secretly using a trafficker’s laptop to send a message seeking help. Two of the alleged traffickers were arrested soon afterwards, according to the lawsuit.
The action names the hotel’s former owner and operators, Sarah Hospitality, as well as Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Wyndham Hotel Group and Super 8 Worldwide. The defendants have denied knowing about or profiting from the trafficking.
In August 2024, a federal judge refused to dismiss the claims against Wyndham, ruling that the woman had plausibly alleged the hotel operator and franchisor could be held liable under federal anti-trafficking laws. The decision did not determine whether the allegations were proven.
Raid followed year-long investigation
The latest police operation involved 31 search warrants and about 250 personnel from local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Secret Service.
Investigators said the inquiry began about a year ago and focused initially on suspected human trafficking, prostitution, drugs and firearms offences linked to the Super 8 and Travelodge. Police did not disclose how many potential trafficking victims had been identified.
Chief Flesland said the Super 8 generated about 1,300 calls for service between January 2025 and late August 2026, while the Travelodge generated roughly 975. The two hotels accounted for 246 arrests and more than 100 reported drug overdoses during that period.
“No stone is going to be left unturned,” Mr Flesland said when asked whether current hotel employees were under investigation. No hotel staff were arrested at the scene, and charging decisions are expected to follow as cases are reviewed by prosecutors.
