http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3005716 Officers disrobe to uncover sex crime HPD changed its policy to crack down on 'spas' fronting for prostitution By ROBERT CROWE Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Some Houston undercover vice officers have dropped their covers altogether, getting naked to make prostitution cases during a four-month sting operation that ended with 56 arrests in November, a Harris County prosecutor said. ADVERTISEMENT Assistant District Attorney Ted Wilson said Police Chief Harold Hurtt has changed a long-standing, but unwritten Houston Police Department policy to allow undercover vice officers to disrobe to persuade suspected prostitutes to negotiate sex acts. "Someone had to do something to shut these places down," Wilson said recently. "It was just so widespread. It had almost gotten in your face." Hurtt and other Houston police officials refused to discuss the department's nudity policy. "I'm not going to comment about the strategies and tactics that we use," Hurtt said last week. The policy change is part of a stepped-up effort by HPD to crack down on the local "spa scene." Another is a new strategy of going after the owners and operators of prostitution businesses on organized-crime charges. Authorities agreed to drop prostitution charges against all but one of the 50 women arrested during the Nov. 16 raids in exchange for their testimony against the owners of the Wildflower Group and Escapes of Houston. 200 suspicious businesses Police said the businesses were among some 200 across Houston that advertise themselves as "day spas," "stress relief clinics," "massage parlors" and "modeling studios," but are really fronts for prostitution. Wildflower Group owners William Henry Costa and Mary Elizabeth Johnston are scheduled to be arraigned in a state district court this morning. Escapes of Houston owner Randall Jones, a former golf teacher, is scheduled to appear in court later this month with co-owners and operators Charles Williams, Renee Hill and Rae Lynn Gandy. By targeting two of the largest operators in Houston, police hope to send a message to other owners and patrons. "We're absolutely gonna try to keep doing this," Vice Division Capt. Steve Jett said. "The community has asked us to clean it up." Residents force studio out Residents' complaints about prostitution have grown with the proliferation of so-called "day spas" and "stress clinics" in recent years. "These businesses are in family-oriented areas, and they don't have a right to engage in illegal activity," said Melissa McGee. "It's a shame that these things are all over town." With help from police and elected officials, McGee's west Houston neighborhood association drove the Asian West modeling studio out of a retail space at 10206 Westheimer in 2003, after residents learned an employee suspected of prostitution had been arrested. Vice officers traditionally have targeted workers instead of the owners of the businesses where prostitution takes place, Jett said. Though a single spa sting operation might net a few arrests, the businesses would remain open. Going after the owners required new tactics, authorities said. Wilson said it had become almost impossible for vice officers to make arrests in those businesses because the workers, aware of prohibitions on police getting undressed, will not negotiate sex acts for money unless a man removes his clothes. "The old street prostitution cases are easy, but the people running these massage parlors are sophisticated," he said. Charlie Fuller, executive director of the Clarkrange, Tenn.-based International Association of Undercover Officers, said prostitutes "set the guidelines" for undercover strategies, forcing police to the limits of acceptable practices to make arrests. "I can assure you that these undercover officers don't want to get naked, but they don't have a choice," Fuller said, adding that many large-city police departments allow officers to get nude to make arrests. "I don't think it's a major issue if the public understands why," he said. Policy hurt some cases Nonetheless, the issue has been divisive in many communities, particularly in cases in which officers have allowed prostitutes to touch their genitals or have engaged in sex acts with prostitutes. Charges against 60 people arrested in a 2003 raid on Maricopa County, Ariz., spas were thrown out after prosecutors learned that sheriff's investigators used nudity and sexual contact to make cases. An investigation last year by The Courier-Journal newspaper in Louisville, Ky., found that during a five-year period, only a fraction of prostitution arrests by sheriff's deputies who used nudity and sexual contact resulted in convictions. Wilson said he would not prosecute a local case if he found out officers had engaged in sex acts with suspected prostitutes. "Our job is to enforce the law," Hurtt said in response to questions about how far Houston officers would be permitted to go to make arrests. "We are not going to violate any laws." Raids not enough? Robyn Few, a former prostitute and director of Sex Workers Outreach Project USA, said vice officers are fighting a losing battle. "It's everywhere. It's in every city. People need to recognize prostitution as a profession," she said. Few's group has begun a largely unsuccessful movement to ease enforcement of prostitution laws in Berkeley, Calif. Fuller said most communities will not tolerate the proliferation of prostitution. That's why it's necessary for vice officers to shut down day spas, he said. "If you don't do something about them, they'll get very organized and spread all over cities. I applaud what Houston's doing," he said. Police departments in San Antonio, Dallas and Austin would not discuss their vice strategies. In Phoenix, where Hurtt was chief before coming to Houston, officers are permitted to disrobe, but they must remain covered with a towel or underwear, said Sgt. Randy Forest, head of that city's police department vice division. "A lot of major cities do allow full nudity, but we just don't," he said. "As far as we're concerned, that crosses the line."
Setting the nudity issue aside, I have to admit that I'm glad to see this. One of the main reasons I stopped practicing massage therapy was because of all the ads in the back of Houston Press pushing places like this. Not only are they illegal, but they give legitimate therapy a VERY difficult time surviving because every creep on the planet calls and asks weird questions or shows up and asks for "extras." It's nasty. I don't have a problem with prostitution in general. Women have a right to do what they want. But, masquerading as someone who can provide legitimate health-related benefits makes it more difficult for everyone to get quality care because I know many practitioners who bailed out for the same reasons I did.
These spas give the legit spas a bad name, but you can usually tell which ones are the shady ones. If they only provide massgaes and are open late at night with neon signs and the windows are all covered up...its probably the 'happy ending' place.
I think their tatics are way off. I don't get it, in the movies the cop is usually the undercover hooker, starts to like it, and then it gets all hot an steamy. Who changed the plot on me?
Another group that are bad and really should be checked are the individuals that advertise in the back of the press and use provocative language. Many of those will "come to your hotel room." Ugh. Then there are the "four hands massage done by two attractive women at the same time."
are you telling me that the Taboo Modeling Studio on Almeda Genoa is not really a "Modeling Studio" I for one am shocked. I used to get a kick out of the name of one that was torn down recently, "Maxwells Stress Relief Center"
I think that's DISGUSTING. Really sleazy. I can't believe people would stoop so low. Jeff, you don't happen to have the phone number to that particular ad do you? Thanks.
went to one in NJ (on more than one occasion...there was one near where we played golf so sometimes we would play for who pays)...you go in and usually some old chinese woman greets u and asks u if you have even been here before and what your name is...after the obligatory "yes" and "your fake name here" answers, she asks if you want 40 minutes or an hour...dont believe the hype...all the sessions are pretty much the same length...pay for 40. thats when you give her the 50 or 60 bucks. Then she brings you to a room with a massage table and tells you to get comfy. You oblige because thats what you do in those places..then you hope the broad that comes back in ISN'T the old hag who let you in. 30 seconds later, some chinese girl whoonly knows the phrases "frip ova", "you want me to touch?", "oil or lotion?" and "oooh, you big boy" comes in and massages you until its time to "frip ova"
Good to see. One thing I noticed when I moved to S.A. is there are ZERO "massage parlor, day spa, asian massage" places here at all. Nothing. Nada! You can drive on almost any freeway in Houston and see them. I never got how these OBVIOUS whorehouses keep in business? I mean cmon?!?!?! How has the city allowed this for so long!? Its a terrible image for the city. On the flip side of things, one cannot even buy a bong in this city of S.A. Not that I need one, but that is something pretty silly IMO
Lighten up, prudies. I couldn't care less whether these establishments exist or not. If some dude wants to throw cash away on something any dude not looking like Jabba the Hut can get for free at Taco Milagro or El Tiempo, let them. Who gives a flying fornication! My problem with it is....how many murders, burglaries and carjackings are occurring while the cops are buck nekkid and trying to bust a "massage technician"?
