Appleton police investigate 'sexual activity' at six local massage businesses - Post-Crescent

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APPLETON - Police investigating six local massage businesses found sexual activity taking place at each of them, the Appleton Police Department said in a statement Friday.

The investigation began last year after police began to get tips from residents, as well as legitimate massage businesses concerned by an apparent influx of illegitimate establishments.

Investigators began looking at six local massage businesses and "noted consistent criminal behavior" at all of them and, as a result, began stopping customers as they left the businesses, police said.

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"These stops revealed sexual acts were occurring for an additional fee; many times, initiated by the employee of the business," police said.

While searching the businesses, officers found employees living at the businesses and discovered most of the businesses did not have any employees licensed to practice massage.

Multiple people have been arrested on suspicion of prostitution and keeping a place of prostitution, police said. Police didn't identify the people arrested.

Contact Chris Mueller at 920-996-7267 or cmueller@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AtChrisMueller.

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