Business owner sues Russellville city, police over massage parlor raids - KATV

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LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — The owner of a Russellville business that was raided is suing the city and the police department for access to the search warrant materials that led to the raid.

According to court documents filed on February 7, Terry McCurter is asking that the search warrant papers, which include warrants, affidavits or testimony in support, and the inventory of items seized be returned to the Pope County Circuit Clerk and made a public record.

In January, the Circuit Court of Pope County signed three search warrants for businesses at 1228 & 2008 West Main Street and 418 South Knoxville in Russellville for the local police department.

The warrants were then followed through on January 22.

One of the targets of the warrants was McCurter's business, and as a result of the raid, the city ordered his businesses to shut down the day after the raid. McCurter says he wasn't given an explanation why.

As for the filing of the lawsuit, no one has been charged in the searches and seizures at his businesses in Russellville.

On January 27, McCurter filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to gain access to the search warrant affidavits.

The FOIA was denied, with the police citing that it was under investigation.

McCurter argues that the 'under investigation' claim is not valid, claiming that his business has been labeled an 'illicit massage parlor' by the media following a press conference about Operation Obscured Vision.

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In response to the lawsuit, the city of Russellville stated "This court did, in fact, seal all of the records that are subject to Plaintiff's FOIA request under the FOIA on January 25, 2025" 3 days before McCurter's FOIA request to the city.

The orders sealing the records are still in effect.

Court documents state that McCurter would possibly be in contempt of the Court's Orders if they released the records.

The city also asked the court that the police department be dismissed from the case, saying that there were no FOIA violations.

A Russellville police department detective statement is included in their evidence, stating:

The case involving Terry McCurter, Eunjuan He, and HL Angel Massage Inc. is still under active investigation.

As the lawsuit progresses, KATV will continue to follow this story.

Read the full initial complaint below: