BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced on Wednesday that law enforcement agencies conducted a raid at a massage parlor in Broadview Heights suspected of running a sex-for-pay operation.
According to a press release from Yost, the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and the Broadview Heights Police Department executed a search warrant Tuesday at JR Spa on Broadview Road.
During the raid, investigators seized documents, financial records, numerous condoms and more than $7,000 in cash. Officials say two individuals were at the spa, who were living and working at the business.
"We didn't know what was going on," Kathleen Stanley, owner of the nearby Agape Organic Salon, told 3News of the situation. "I just wish there was something more we could've done."
The State Medical Board of Ohio, the Canopy Child Advocacy Center and the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center also assisted with conducting the search. Those in the community are happy authorities took action.
"Human trafficking is a huge problem in the United States," concerned citizen Tyler Dreher said. "That's very scary to think about, that's it's just in our hometown."
At this time, the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the business is asked to call the tip line of the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force at (216) 443-6085.
