Police say that she abducted a girl 16 years old after using a TikTok emergency hand signal to alert other drivers.
James Brick, 61 was taken into custody by Laurel County Sheriff’s Offices after receiving a Thursday call about a 16 year old girl making hand gestures that were known to TikTok as domestic violence.
Brick saw it, as did someone behind Brick. The girl later told police she was abducted from Asheville (North Carolina) and taken through Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky.
Her parents reported her missing.
This signal is displayed on several TikTok account, one of which was set up by NowThis. It involves a person raising their hands and placing their thumb in their mouth. After that, they lower their fingers until the thumb becomes ‘trapped’ within them.
This is to indicate that the signer has suffered domestic abuse.
One driver called in about the teen in a silver Toyota who ‘appeared to be in distress’ making hand gestures known on the social media app to represent ‘violence at home – I need help,’ the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said.
James Brick (61), was taken into custody for abducting a girl, 16 years old, in North Carolina. On the interstate, drivers spotted the little girl using emergency hand signals via TikTok to signal for help.
TikTok users have posted videos showing how to discreetly sign the hand to stop domestic abuse. This video was shared by TikTok and the teenager said that she had learned to do this sign.
This illustration explains what the girl’s hand signal looks like
‘It was learned through investigation that the female passenger was a reported missing juvenile – reported by her parents on Tuesday morning missing from Asheville, North Carolina,’ the Laurel Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. “An NCIC check confirmed she was missing.”
Police were told by the missing teenager that Brick and she had been to Ohio with Brick’s family, but she left soon after Brick and his family discovered she was too young and she was reported missing.
While driving from North Carolina to North Carolina via Interstate 75, she started making hand signs.
Brick was quickly taken into custody by officers. They also discovered a cell phone that ‘allegedly depicted a minor female sexually’.
The identity of the girl found inside the car is not known. Brick was also allegedly acquainted with his victim, but police are still trying to determine if Brick had any knowledge of her before the attack. Also, they have not provided details as to how Brick got to her.
Brick was arrested for kidnapping as well as possession of child pornography. He is currently in custody at the Laurel County Correctional Center.
According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.