Slidell massage parlor arrests 'opened our eyes': police | NOLA.com - NOLA.com

[massage]

A day after announcing four prostitution-related arrests stemming from undercover investigations at massage parlors, a Slidell Police Department official said continued undercover operations can be expected in the future.

"Obviously, Friday night (April 13) just scratched the surface and opened our eyes to what's going on," said Detective Daniel Seuzeneau, who is also a department spokesman.

Four women were booked with prostitution by massage Friday, a misdemeanor, after the investigations at three different massage parlors, police said. All four women posted bond and have been released from Slidell City Jail, Seuzeneau said.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune is not identifying the women arrested because they were charged only with misdemeanors.

Seuzeneau said the investigation is continuing, with detectives trying to determine if there are any human trafficking issues.

"We're investigating who actually owns these places - under what pretenses they're operating," he added.

Seuzeneau said some "naysayers" call such undercover operations a waste of time and police resources, but he thinks the arrests indicate there may be "a much broader picture than what happened Friday night."

"We were four for four," he said. "Nobody passed the legal activity test. It's pretty apparent what's going on."

Seuzeneau said a handful of massage parlors have opened in Slidell in the last year or so. Some of the new parlors have prompted complaints of possible illegal activity from neighboring businesses, who have noted they stay open all night, typically only have male customers and that some of the women there appear to be scantily dressed.

"That raised some red flags for us," he said.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office and Louisiana Attorney General's Office partnered with police in the undercover stings, Seuzeneau said.

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