Southeast massage parlour shut down by authorities

Police say the business was bumped up the priority list because of its close proximity to a daycare and school in the area.

Police have issued a Community Safety Order on a business in southeast Calgary and say it has been a constant problem for authorities for more than 10 years.

Following a collaborative investigation by the Calgary Police Service and ALERT's Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Unit (SCAN), a 30 day closure order was issued against a business operating as a massage parlour at 3155-34 Ave. S.E.

One person, an employee at the facility, is also facing charges and police say the massage parlour was a front for prostitution.

"This particular location has been on our radar for twelve years. What we found is we would charge the workers and they would just change the name, get some new employees and the business would continue to act as a front for prostitution, said S/Sgt Robert Rutlege of the CPS Vice Unit.

According to the terms of the order, the business will be completely closed for 30 days.

In addition, the owner cannot rent the building out to any massage businesses or any other business whose primary purpose is massage and If the conditions are violated at any time, SCAN will take further legal action.

Police say they were particularly troubled by the location of the business.

“If you can imagine, there was a business operating as a daycare 100 feet from this massage parlour where prostitution was taking place. This is the first CSO granted in Alberta and likely Canada addressing the ongoing problem of businesses registered as massage parlours performing acts of prostitution,” said Investigator Glenn Stuart with the southern SCAN Unit.

Stuart says the CSO lasts for one year and the owner of the building must get written approval from the SCAN Unit before renting the property out to anyone else.

"In that time if he's to re-lease this property we will be screening any new tenants," said Stuart.

SCAN says that between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013, the public submitted 305 complaints concerning problem properties in Alberta, with SCAN resolving 268.

Seven Community Safety Orders were handed out during that time.