CAIRO, Ga. (WALB) - Grady County’s sheriff, Earl Prince, said the actions of an alert deputy led to the rescue of human trafficking victim Monday.

Sheriff Prince praised his department for the rescue of a human trafficking victim during a traffic stop. The driver, 24-year-old Matthew Malik Harris of Augusta was initially stopped for failure to maintain lanes.

Harris stopped, then drove off, leading deputies on a two-mile chase. Harris eventually stopped again. The officer determined that Harris was wanted for human trafficking in Florida. There were two other people inside the car, including a woman who said she had been held by Harris and used for human trafficking for three weeks.

“We’re all human beings, and we all deserve to be treated as human beings. And that’s just not how you treat your fellow man,” Prince said.

Officials said Harris, the victim and an unidentified person were headed to Tallahassee, Florida. At this time, the victim is being reunited with her family.

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