W. BELTLINE HWY: Arrested Person

Two Madison women were arrested Thursday for allegedly attempting to traffic an underage girl, according to a police report.

Kayla Powers, 20, and Jazmyn Powers, 20, were tentatively charged with human trafficking after police were called to a Super 8 hotel on the beltline. Police found a 16-year-old in the lobby, who said the two suspects forced her to have sexual relations with men for money, according to the report.

“Obviously it’s a profoundly tragic situation,” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said. “It’s very rare that somebody is arrested in Madison for human trafficking.”

The report said a detective is carrying out the investigation.

NORTH POLICE DISTRICT: Assist Citizen

A woman was bitten in the face by a pet python Jan. 19 while attending a book club at a friend’s house, according to a Madison Police report.

MPD spokesperson Joel DeSpain said the woman attempted to pick up the snake, which then latched onto her right cheek.

Madison police and fire departments arrived at the house to aid the woman, but the owner of the snake was able to calm the animal down and remove it from the woman’s face, DeSpain said.

“The woman who was bitten is fine, and she didn’t have any scars or long-lasting trauma,” DeSpain said. “From what I know, snakes make pretty good pets and aren’t known to bite, but it must have been hungry, scared or both.”

VERA COURT: Drunk Driving

A Madison man was arrested for his fifth drunk driving offense after police were notified of a vehicle driving erratically and narrowly missing a bus Thursday afternoon.

Madison police were dispatched to the Vera Court area after they received calls that a Chevy Trailblazer nearly hit a school bus, MPD spokesperson Joel DeSpain said.

DeSpain said after performing a field sobriety test, the suspect was arrested for his fifth OWI arrest.

The suspect actively resisted as he was being arrested, the report said, but was secured and taken to the Dane County Jail.

MINERAL POINT RD: Suspicious Person

A 38-year-old woman encountered a stranger at Metcalfe’s Market that attempted to coerce her into leaving with him, an MPD report said.

The suspect approached the woman in the supermarket and struck up small talk with her that quickly became sexually suggestive, DeSpain said. At that point, a security guard entered the area, and the suspect left the store.

The woman was not injured, Ald. Paul Skidmore, District 9, said, but the experience proved to be traumatic for her.

“Unfortunately, there are a variety of crimes in the city, and they can happen anywhere,” Skidmore said of the incident. “We have to be vigilant to all sorts of crime. These things can happen to anybody at any time.”