Politics & Government

'Provocative' Online Ads Prompt Investigation Into Local Massage Parlors

Police say they are looking into local businesses that have solicited massage services with sexually provocative ads.

When the owners of a proposed massage parlor approached the Glendora Planning Commission several years ago, they insisted they were offering legitimate massage services. But the Craiglist ad commissioner James Prunty recently came across for the same business seemed to suggest otherwise.

During Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting, Prunty addressed the Craiglist ad for a massage business on Route 66, noting the ad conveyed a “very provocative” message and insinuated illegal sexual services. However, Prunty did not disclose the specific location of the business, and Glendora Police declined to comment on the location pending an ongoing investigation.

“We grilled this applicant and we were satisfied that this applicant was going to run a legitimate business. Nothing in this ad that suggests the type of services that [we] were convinced of,” said Prunty. “It’s embarrassing, that we have so carefully scrutinized the ordinance that it can be so easily thwarted.”

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Prunty said he was “distressed” to hear from residents that the business under discussion had been open as late as 11 p.m. on certain days.

“I am quite certain that we did not permit this in the conditional use permit,” Prunty said.

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The commission directed city staff to review the business’s conditional use permit, and to follow up with code enforcement.

City Planning Director Jeff Kugel said that he was aware of the business and that he had been discussing the matter with Glendora Police.

If a business violates terms of their conditional use permit, the city may order the business to close down unless they can rectify the violation, said commissioner Joseph Battaglia.

Kugel said the city adopted a strict ordinance regarding massage services in 2008, requiring that massage services could not make up more than 30 percent of a single business’ services. Massage services must be accompanied by other day spa-type services such as manicures or skin treatments. Prior to that, the city placed a moratorium on massage business permits to revise the ordinance. Since then, Kugel said the city has not received new applications for massage services.

Kugel said the business addressed by Prunty had received its permit prior to the new ordinance, noting that as long as businesses stay within the terms of their conditional use permit, they can continue services if they stay in the same location.

Glendora Police Chief Rob Castro said the city performs annual inspections of all facilities, as well as random stings to check if a business is performing any illegal activity.

Castro said there are two massage businesses under investigation because of suspicious online advertisements suggesting “inappropriate services” that are sexual in nature.

“The ads we have seen are not the types of ads that you and I would look at and think this is a legitimate massage business,” said Castro. “They appear that they are soliciting for illegal activities…Where there is smoke there is usually fire. We are looking at these locations and ramping up our inspections.”

However, he added the issue is under investigation and that police have not confirmed any local massage business conducting illegal activity.

Two years ago, legislation was passed to allow massage therapists to obtain their licenses through the state or the city where they chose to practice. Because state licensing procedure is less intensive than the city’s, Castro said most massage businesses go through the state, limiting some ability from the city to monitor individual businesses.

“It’s difficult, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure there isn’t any illegal activity occurring in any business in Glendora,” said Castro.


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