Oh, A Little Company! Police Shut Down Unlicensed Massage Parlors

New details on the police raid that shut down 10 massage parlors on Wednesday. News release from Police Department:

Bridgeport police closed down every illegal massage parlor in the city Wednesday in a daylong sweep.

“As a community and police department we won’t tolerate these types of establishments,” said Police Chief Joe Gaudett. “Prostitution is not a victimless crime. It frays the fabric of our community, both for residents and nearby merchants.”

Ten unlicensed parlors were closed under a state law and city ordinance that regulate massage parlors and massage therapists.

The raids were conducted by the city’s narcotics and vice squad with assistance from the State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force and the city Health Department.

“These laws are now on the books and they will be strictly enforced,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “It’s a quality of life issue. People going to a restaurant for a family dinner shouldn’t be exposed this type of activity next door or down the street.”

Under state law, all massage parlors must be licensed by the state as well as all managers and masseuses. Legitimate massage therapists are issued identification cards. The city ordinance, enacted in August, has similar provisions for regulating the businesses.

According to Police Capt. A.J. Perez, the supervisor of the narcotics and vice squad, none of the 10 parlors or the women working there had the required documents, leading to all being closed down by the Health Department.

“These places are houses of prostitution. There’s no one licensed at any of them to give an actual massage,” Gaudett said.

One person was arrested on a warrant from Danbury, Perez said. The employees and patrons were identified but not charged.

Many of the employees were from Korea and presented driver’s licenses from New York and Pennsylvania, Perez said. Several others were Connecticut residents. The patrons were from cities and towns throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties.

The places that were closed down were:

· Tokyo Spa, 2925 Fairfield Ave.

· Chate’au, 2662 Fairfield Ave.

· Silver, 2742 Fairfield Ave.

· Hawaii Salon, 3486 Fairfield Ave.

· Osaka, 3941 Main St.

· American Asian Modeling, 3853 Main St.

· Oriental Health Spa, 2336 Main St.

· Kay’s Hong Kong, 604 North Ave.

· Fantasy Studio, 2742 Lindley St.

· Jasmine Salon, 40 Summerfield Ave.

Gaudett said the locations will be closely monitored in case they illegally reopen or open under a new name.

“Just in case they do reopen, we’re going to have a plan of action. We’re going to keep following up,” said Gaudett.

“I commend Chief Gaudett and all the police officers that were involved in this crackdown of illegal massage parlors,” said state Rep. Auden Grogins. “These efforts will go a long way to improve the quality of life of Bridgeport residents. I am proud to have worked with our police and the City Council in the effort to pass new laws at the state and local level which have given police the tools to clean up our City.”

City Council President Thomas McCarthy and Councilwoman Susan Brannelly both expressed appreciation for the work of police.

“These so-called businesses were public nuisances, and we’re grateful that police took such decisive action,” they said. “We’re thankful for the police department’s good work.”