During a weekend traffic stop on Interstate 44, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper discovered multiple minors riding in the back of a U-Haul truck, prompting charges against two men for child endangerment.
The driver, identified as 31-year-old Shaikiem Bristol, and another male occupant, 22-year-old Musa Omar, are currently being held at the Webster County Jail. They face seven counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, creating substantial risk due to the dangerous conditions in the cargo area, which lacked proper seating or restraint systems.
"The elements of child endangerment were clearly met by riding in a cargo area of a vehicle such as a U-Haul,"a spokesperson for the Missouri Highway Patrol explained.
The stop occurred on Sunday afternoon when a trooper pulled over the U-Haul for a moving violation near the 100-mile marker, eastbound on I-44. During the investigation, the trooper found that there were individuals in the cargo area of the vehicle.
"Not knowing the nature of who was back there, it was decided to seize the U-Haul and take it to the sheriff's office to open the back door in a safer environment," the Highway Patrol added. “That worked out really well; it was a very good decision made by our trooper.”
Once the vehicle was at the sheriff’s office, authorities opened the cargo area and discovered a mix of minors, ages 2-13, and adults. Initial reports by local news outlets suggested possible connections to human trafficking, but the patrol clarified, "There should be no indication of that. Everyone present was vetted, and their citizenship was valid and current. It appears to be a friends and family scenario; everyone knew each other."
According to authorities, the patrolman asked Shaikiem where they were driving from. Shaikiem said they had picked up a girl who was being kicked out by her mom in Glendale, Arizona. He told the trooper they were on their way to Buffalo, New York. One of the adults was from Glendale. Everyone else was from Buffalo.
The U-Haul had no power or air conditioning and the cargo area was also littered with trash, clothing, and food containers. As they helped the children out of the vehicle, officials noticed that many had dirty diapers and appeared to have gone hours without a change. Troopers observed that all occupants in the back were sweaty from the heat.
After his arrest, troopers questioned Shaikiem about why the children were on the trip. He replied, “I have no idea why we took the kids. I knew it was going to be hot. That’s why we tried to stop a lot.”
Shaikiem explained that they attempted to stop every couple of hours of the trip to avoid the occupants in the back overheating. Shaikiem and Omar were reportedly the only drivers for the trip.
ICE, DHS, and DFS responded to the scene to assist with the investigation. Emergency medical services were called to check on the well-being of the occupants, and officials reported that all individuals were medically clear, with no injuries or signs of trauma. However, the situation raised significant concerns about safety, as it is illegal for individuals to ride in the back of a U-Haul in Missouri.
The case remains under investigation, but officials have ruled out any links to drug trafficking or smuggling. Both men appeared in court Oct. 1, as authorities continue to assess the situation and ensure the safety of the minors involved.
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