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MILLCREEK — Unified police investigators have arrested nearly a dozen people after busting two massage parlors that were allegedly engaged in prostitution.
The arrests culminate an investigation that began two weeks ago. The massage businesses were in the Millcreek area along 4500 South between 500 East and 1000 East.
The buildings -- one called "Healing Hands" -- appear almost to be abandoned, with broken, unmarked signs and locked doors. But police and prosecutors say the "massage parlors" were really being used for prostitution.
In our community, if you engage in acts of prostitution, it's against the law and you will be held accountable for that.
–Sim Gill
"When it pertains to prostitution, there's a whole host of different businesses that can front for it," said Salt Lake District Attorney Sim Gill.
Between the two shops, police cited 11 people for prostitution, aiding prostitution, giving a massage without a license and no business license. Ten of those arrested were women between the ages of 22 and 49.
One was the owner of Healing Hands -- Troy Bever. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of prostitution.
"In our community, if you engage in acts of prostitution, it's against the law and you will be held accountable for that," said Gill.
Surrounding business owners tell KSL they've been suspicious for quite a while because of the late business hours and all-male clientele. We spoke to an employee of the Healing Hands -- where an "open" sign still hangs -- who told us she didn't know if there was prostitution going on at the business but that she was aware of the police raid.
The employee said Bever is moving in a different direction now, but said she didn't know exactly what that meant.
"I have no idea. I didn't get any information about it and I haven't really spoken to the owner about it," she said.
The district attorney's office is screening the case for more prostitution charges.
Story written by Jennifer Stagg with contributions from Pat Reavy.
