MIAMI – A 28-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on multiple charges after he forced at least two young women into prostitution and then kept the proceeds, authorities said Thursday.

According to an arrest report, Joshua Joseph Notarianni, of Naples, faces two counts of human trafficking, two counts of obtaining support from the proceeds of prostitution and one count of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

Miami police said they initially responded to the area of ​​485 Brickell Ave. Wednesday while searching for a 15-year-old boy who had been reported missing.

Police said officers reviewed surveillance video and saw a woman who resembled the missing teenager being accompanied by a man.

“Officers recognized the man as Joshua Notarianni and a records check revealed he had an open felony warrant from a previous incident in Collier County,” Miami Police Officer Michael Vega said in a statement. presser. “Officers continued to review CCTV footage and identified the establishment where the woman and Notarianni entered.”

According to Vega, two women, ages 20 and 23, came out of the facility, but Notarianni refused to come out.

He said officers at the scene heard the sound of a gun being fired from inside the unit and that the two women confirmed to officers that Notarianni was armed.

“When they interviewed the two victims, they told the officers that they were forced into prostitution by Notarianni,” Vega said in the press release. “He used physical violence to force them into prostitution and then kept the proceeds of prostitution. In addition, he kept the victims’ identification documents hidden in a locked room that the victims could not access.”

Vega said officers were involved in a standoff with Notarianni for several hours before a patrol supervisor convinced him to leave the gun on the kitchen counter and come outside.

Vega said Notarianni was then detained and the gun was recovered as evidence.

“The Miami Police Department remains dedicated to protecting everyone from crime and will work tirelessly to identify and bring criminals to justice,” Vega said. “If you or someone you know has been a victim targeted by Notarianni, we urge you to come forward. We thank the State Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force for their assistance.”

Anyone with information about Notarianni is urged to contact the Miami Police Department’s Special Victims Unit at 305-603-6300. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. Tipsters can also visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select “Leave a tip” or send a text message to 274637. Enter CSMD followed by the tip information and press send.