AUBURN, Maine — Auburn officials voted to shut down a massage parlor Monday night, after police say massage therapists were engaging in illegal sexual contact with clients.
Deputy Chief Jason Moen said the business, Chinese Massage and Body Work Inc., started about a year ago.
“We started getting some complaints from the community about a lot of vehicles in and out and possibly some sexual activity taking place at the establishment,” Moen said.
The investigation began immediately, but Moen said it would have been difficult to have an officer enter the business.
“So we basically relied on surveillance and talking with people as they were leaving,” he said.
Officials also wanted to rule out any human trafficking elements.
“There have been instances in the past where these sex trade workers are brought in to work in these types of establishments while they’re working off a debt,” Moen said, adding while that was not the case here, the activity did violate city code.
That code prohibits massage therapists from having any sexual contact with clients.
“It was sexual contact that was taking place,” he said.
Moen says two clients agreed to testify in front of Auburn City Councilors Monday night.
“So based upon that testimony, the City Council voted to revoke their license,” he said.
The Auburn Police Department worked with the district attorney on the case, who recommended against filing criminal charges against the owner, Yizhe Wang.
“Based on our conversation with them, they felt that a criminal prosecution would have been difficult,” Moen said.
A woman identifying herself as the owner declined to comment on the case Tuesday afternoon.
Moen said the primary goal in the case was to get the activity out of town.
“It ranks right up there with drug dealers and regular prostitution, something we’re not going to put up with,” Moen said.