Human trafficking raid in Lakewood leads to more warrants, seizure of ‘volumes’ of cash
Northeast Ohio’s Human Trafficking Task Force confirms officers seized "volumes" of cash and also searched residential homes during a raid at 2 Lakewood massage parlors. This comes after investigators served search warrants Wednesday morning at those massage parlors along Madison Avenue in Lakewood. Meanwhile, they also searched another parlor in North Olmsted. Nheast Ohio's Human Trafficking Task Force led by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department led to warrants being issued for the search of residential homes during a raid at two massage parlors in Lakewood, Ohio. The task force seized ‘volumes’ of cash and evidence gathered, which led them to issue more warrants for residential searches. The raids were conducted by the Lakewood Police Department and resulted in the closure of both K-Spa and Green Massage Parlor. No arrests have been made yet. The evidence seized at the two locations indicates they are operating as illegal commercial sex establishments.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Mike Mason in General
LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WOIO) - Northeast Ohio’s Human Trafficking Task Force confirms officers seized “volumes” of cash and the evidence collected lead to warrants being issued for the search of residential homes during a raid at Lakewood massage parlors.
This comes after investigators served search warrants Wednesday morning at two massage parlors along Madison Avenue in Lakewood.
Meanwhile, they also searched another parlor in North Olmsted.
The Task Force, which is led by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, teamed up with the Lakewood Police Department to serve warrants on the massage parlors, which are both within blocks of each other on Madison Avenue.
K-Spa Massage Parlor is located at 16800 Madison and Green Massage Parlor is located at 16210 Madison Avenue.
Officers spent most of the day at K-Spa, at the corner of Lauderdale and Madison.
The parlor is located in a mixed commercial and residential neighborhood, and is across the street from Harding Middle School.
Investigators confirm they are still sifting through evidence seized at the Lakewood locations, which they say included “volumes” of cash and information they feel confirms that the parlors are operating as illegal commercial sex establishments.
Just after noon, a worker with Lakewood’s Housing and Building Department posted a notice to vacate on the parlor’s front door.
He says officers found living quarters inside the business, which is against city code. A similar notice was also posted at Green Massage.
Both businesses closed their doors after warrants were served.
Investigators say a number of Asian women were found working at the Lakewood parlors. At this time, no arrests have been made.
Residents say it’s not the only time the K-Spa location has been the target of law enforcement.
Jim Carson lives directly across the street and says he notices men entering and leaving the parlor day and night. He says he has also seen police activity at the same location in the past.
“Local government, city and county— they’re all doing their best to shut the place down and they’re just going to have to keep trying,” said Carson.
Officers could be seen exiting the back of the building with paperwork in their hands.
19 Investigates found neither of the massage parlors are members of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, though a Google search found K-Spa listed on a site that claims to be affiliated with a Chamber of Commerce. The site also provides ratings and reviews from alleged clients.
Meanwhile, investigators also served a warrant at the U-Spa massage parlor in North Olmsted located at 26745 Brookpark Road.
Efforts to contact the owners of these parlors were unsuccessful.
Evidence collected during the raids will be presented to a prosecutor for potential charges. According to officials, more warrants could be issued as they continue their investigation.
Topics: Crime, Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Sexual Exploitation