BEAUMONT, Texas — After receiving several complaints, Lumberton Police and Texas Department of Public Safety investigators have made an arrest during an investigation into a Lumberton massage parlor.
A 54-year-old Lumberton woman was arrested Wednesday, July 31, 2024, on a prostitution charge in connection with an investigation at Star Massage at 853 South Main St. in Lumberton, according to a news release from the DPS.
She was booked into the Hardin County Jail on a misdemeanor prostitution charge, according to the news release. As of Friday morning she had been released on a $15,000 bond, according to a jailer.
An undercover officer went into the massage parlor and within four minutes had received a solicitation offer, Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins told 12News Friday morning.
Lumberton officers and DPS special agents, along with a Baytown Police Department interpreter who speaks Mandarin, were involved in the investigation, Sullins said.
The woman refused to speak to police, he said.
Police received several complaints and Crime Stoppers tips about the parlor Sullins said.
Some complainants said that after going to the business for what they thought was a legitimate massage they ended up being "groped or touched inappropriately," Sullins told 12News.
There are two more massage parlors in Lumberton and police have received complaints on both of them, Sullins said.
After the arrest, the fire marshall inspected the business and shut it down for fire code violations. Power has been shut off to the parlor, Sullins said.
Sullins noted that, in July, the city passed a new ordinance targeted at massage parlors. Police are now starting to enforce it he said.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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