San Mateo man arrested on suspicion of human trafficking

SAN MATEO — A 35-year-old San Mateo man has been arrested on suspicion of forcing a woman to work as a caregiver without pay and threatening to kill her, police said.

Employees at an area hospital called authorities around 1:20 p.m. Wednesday after the victim reported she was being trafficked and threatened, according to the San Mateo Police Department.

The victim told police she came to the United States from China to work as a caregiver for the small child of a family. The suspect took her passport after she arrived, police said.

Over the course of several months, the victim was verbally abused, denied personal liberties and did not receive payment for her services, according to police.

The suspect, on one occasion, held a knife to the victim’s throat and threatened to kill her, police said.

The suspect was arrested and booked into San Mateo County jail on charges of human trafficking, criminal threats and brandishing a weapon, according to police.

The victim, meanwhile, was given a safe place to stay and other support services, police said.