SOUTH YARMOUTH — A Cape Cod woman accused of human trafficking is back on the streets after a judge set bail at just $500, despite what police described as a disturbing case of exploitation uncovered during a late-night patrol.

According to Yarmouth Police, Officer Jefferson Willis was on duty in early September when he noticed suspicious behavior in a grocery store parking lot — one woman hopping between two cars, fogged-up windows, and a quick skirt adjustment before driving away.

When Willis stopped the vehicle, he identified the driver as Rina Hernandez-Alcantara, 38, of Sandwich. Police say her story quickly fell apart. Through a Spanish-speaking interpreter, officers learned that Hernandez-Alcantara had allegedly been transporting another woman across Cape Cod and coordinating sexual encounters for cash using fake names and WhatsApp messages.

After a month-long investigation involving regional task forces and the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office, Hernandez-Alcantara was arrested on October 22 and charged with Trafficking of a Person for Sexual Servitude — a felony under Massachusetts law.

But despite the severity of the charge, a judge released her on $500 bail, allowing her to walk free within hours.

The Yarmouth Police Department said the case highlights its ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable individuals while calling on the public to report suspected trafficking. “Your call could save a life,” the department said.

The low bail has sparked anger among locals who see it as another example of Massachusetts’ justice system going soft — even in cases involving human suffering.