UPDATE: Alaska Club statement on charges against massage ... - KTUU.com

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ANCHORAGE (KTUU) SATURDAY UPDATE:

The Alaska Club has provided the following statement on the investigation of Christopher Delamar, a massage therapist who formerly worked at the club and now faces harassment charges.

"On August 8, 2016 The Alaska Club received a complaint from a member alleging inappropriate contact during a massage session conducted by Mr. Delamar. Based on this information, The Alaska Club immediately terminated Mr. Delamar's employment .

"Prior to August 8, The Alaska Club's management team was made aware of a third party comment in regards to Mr. (Delamar) that expressed concern of poor draping during their massage. We followed standard protocol, and had another licensed massage manager address the concern by reinforcement of existing policy, which included additional coaching and training."

Delamar faces charges of first-degree harassment related to reports of inappropriate touching of clients during massages provided at the Alaska Club.

In an affidavit, Anchorage Police Det. Jeff Bell wrote that a general manager at the club, Ricky White, had been notified in July that certain members had concerns about the massage therapist.


“(On Aug. 10) White said that about two weeks ago he had another massage therapist ... contact him and tell him that three other Alaska club members had told him that Delamar had touched them inappropriately during a massage," the detective wrote.

“White said that the other members complained of inappropriate ‘draping,’ of being exposed and very ‘intimate’ touching by Delamar," the affidavit says.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Alaska Club manager had previously received complaint about inappropriate touching massage therapist

An Anchorage police detective who investigated alleged sexual misconduct by Alaska Club massage therapist Christopher Delamar says in a sworn statement that the club's management had previously received complaints about the man.

In the affidavit, Detective Jeff Bell said the alleged victims reported Delamar making “offensive physical contact” with three members of the Alaska Club.

Two co-workers of Delamar, including a manager, had “similar experiences” with Delamar, according to the affidavit.

The alleged acts include removing sheets covering clients’ bodies and rubbing his genitals against victims during massage therapy.

Bell said as far back as July there had been complaints made to Alaska Club management regarding Delamar.

Police were not notified until August.

One of the alleged victims, identified as A.B., reported the incident to a manager at the Alaska Club in July. However, the Alaska Club did not terminate Delamar’s employment or inform law enforcement at that time.

According to the affidavit, Alaska Club South's general manager Ricky White knew of allegations regarding Delamar’s behavior, and had been “trying to figure out how to terminate Delamar.”

White said another massage therapist at the Alaska Club told him in July that three Alaska Club members said Delamar had touched them inappropriately, according to court documents.

White said these other members didn't want to make "official” statements but that they complained of inappropriate "draping," being exposed and very "intimate" touching by Delamar.

White later told police that even though he received complaints about the employee, he believed that if they could not get victims to make an official statement against Delamar, White was in “limbo” about what he could legally and ethically about the incidents.

White told the detective he "didn’t do anything except unofficially keep an eye on things.” According to prosecutors, this could have led to more victims.

KTUU met with White at the Alaska Club South to ask him about the allegations against Delamar. He declined to comment.

Delamar reportedly had 700 customers during the past year, 25 of which were contacted by police. Of the 25 contacted, five members expressed concerns about the massages they received at the Alaska Club.

ORIGINAL STORY:

An Anchorage massage therapist has been arrested on charges of harassment for inappropriately touching at least three of his clients.

Christopher Delamar, 31, has been charged with three counts of first-degree harassment following an investigation by Anchorage police.

The investigation began in August when a female contacted APD with claims of having been inappropriately touched during a massage from Delamar.

Delamar, a licensed massage therapist who has worked at several different locations in the Anchorage area, is being charged with victimizing at least three other massage clients.

At this time, APD is still investigating if Delamar has inappropriately touched any other of his clients and is worried that there could still be more victims who have yet to come forward.

Anyone who feels they have been victimized by Delamar is being asked to call Detective Jeff Bell at 907-786-2411.

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