BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — More than 250 local, county, state and federal personnel participated Wednesday in a large-scale law-enforcement operation stemming from an approximately yearlong investigation into suspected human trafficking, narcotics distribution and related criminal activity in Brooklyn Center.
The Brooklyn Center Police Department said investigators executed 30 court-authorized search warrants. Twenty-six were executed at the Super 8 and Travelodge hotels on James Circle, while four additional warrants were served at two other hotels associated with the investigation.
“This is not a response to one isolated incident,” Brooklyn Center Police Chief Garett Flesland said in the city's news release. Flesland said the operation followed approximately one year of focused investigative work into what police described as persistent and serious criminal activity associated with the two properties.
Police also released data detailing the amount of public-safety activity associated with the Super 8 and Travelodge.
From Jan. 1, 2025, through Aug. 27, 2026, the Super 8 generated approximately 1,300 calls for service and the Travelodge approximately 975, according to police. Combined, the properties accounted for 246 arrests.
Police said the hotels also generated 53 violent-crime-related calls involving incidents such as assaults, robberies, shootings or shots fired, sex crimes and weapons. Fifteen violent-crime arrests were recorded at the properties during the period analyzed.
Authorities responded to 104 reported drug overdoses at the two hotels, representing approximately 24% of all reported drug overdoses in Brooklyn Center during the period analyzed, according to the department.
The investigation also focused on suspected human trafficking. Police said investigators had repeated contacts with individuals believed to be trafficking victims, including several previous victim recoveries at the Travelodge by the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force.
Several individuals directly reported to detectives that they were being trafficked, according to the release. When applications for the search warrants were finalized, investigators had also documented nine active commercial-sex advertisements associated with the hotels.
Victim-support personnel, including FBI personnel, advocates and other service providers, assisted potential trafficking victims encountered during Wednesday's operation and worked to connect them with services.
The operation involved a large group of law-enforcement agencies, including the Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Maple Grove, New Hope, Plymouth and Robbinsdale police departments; Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka county sheriff's offices; Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; FBI; U.S. Secret Service; Drug Enforcement Administration; West Metro SWAT; and personnel assigned through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program.
Additional support came from the Brooklyn Center Fire Department, Brooklyn Center Public Works, North Ambulance Service, Hennepin County Public Health, Hennepin County Probation, Safe Harbor representatives and victim-support personnel.
Hennepin County Public Health will inspect and evaluate conditions at the Super 8 and Travelodge to determine whether corrective actions or closure notices or orders are warranted. Officials emphasized that no closure outcome had been announced as of Wednesday afternoon.
Brooklyn Center police said the investigation and enforcement operation remain ongoing.
Authorities have not yet released the number of arrests made during Wednesday's operation, evidence recovered, potential criminal charges or possible regulatory actions involving the properties. Police said those details will be released once the information has been verified and can appropriately be made public.
The National Correspondent Network contacted Brooklyn Center officials Wednesday seeking additional information about the operation. Brooklyn Center Communications Manager Joe Cardoza subsequently provided NCN with the city's official media release.
This is a developing story. NCN will update this report as additional information is confirmed.
