Police raid massage, health businesses

By: JO MORELAND - Staff Writer | Saturday, April 9, 2005 12:07 AM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Targeting alleged prostitution, authorities raided four small Asian alternative health care parlors Friday afternoon and arrested seven people.

Most were arrested on suspicion of prostitution or related misdemeanor code violations, including inappropriate clothing worn by a masseuse, inappropriate touching, clients not properly covered, or allowing violations to occur, detective Lt. David Mankin said.

"We got prostitution arrests from all the places we hit," Mankin said.

He said the raids followed nine months of investigation after people complained about prostitution and unwanted lewd touching at Sunset Acupressure at 1911 Sunset Drive; JK Healthcare at 1027 E. Grand Ave.; Oriental Therapy at 1645 E. Valley Parkway; and Sundance Spa at 1320 W. Valley Parkway.

An attempt to hit a fifth business, Asia Acupressure at 829 S. Escondido Blvd., didn't work out because police were told the place had a water supply problem and would be closed for at least two hours, Mankin said.

Six of those arrested were Isabeele Lee, 65, Oceanside; Ailing Sun, 48, of San Gabriel; Yeon Rinn, 47, Los Angeles; Ok Cha Chong, 51, Tustin; Yuncha Ann Shin, 49, Garden Grove; and Kilcha Yim Lockard, 60, San Diego.

The seventh suspect, 47-year-old Su Yeon Lee of Escondido, was arrested on suspicion of delaying a police officer, Mankin said.

At Sunset Acupressure, Detective Sgt. Chuck Gaylor said that employees wouldn't open a locked door when a raiding party knocked to get inside.

"One of the officers got injured when we hit the door with a door ram," Gaylor said. "We saw one of the women run by."

When the door shattered, part of it hit Detective Luis Rudisell in the face, causing scrapes that would require stitches, Mankin said.

About 30 officers from the Escondido, Oceanside and Carlsbad police departments, federal immigration, the San Diego County district attorney's office, and the Escondido city attorney's office and city code enforcement and business licensing departments participated in the crackdown.

Mankin said the four businesses are among 22 licensed massage parlors or alternate health care businesses in Escondido.

"We do have a number of licensed establishments that are operating legitimately," Mankin said.

Mayor Lori Pfeiler said the city wants to be supportive of legitimate massage establishments and spas.

"On the other hand," she said, "for anyone who uses a massage parlor as a front, justice should be swift."

On Friday, police said the raids didn't start until undercover officers wearing wires and posing as customers were solicited for a sexual act or touched inappropriately.

Once in custody, suspects were photographed, fingerprinted and cited for the alleged misdemeanor offenses before police released them.

Surveillance tapes from cameras that photographed customers outside several places were confiscated, along with condoms, lubricants and any evidence of prostitution, Mankin said.

After the raid at Sunset Acupressure, three Asian women sat in a shabby pink room as officers took their identification information. One sat far forward, her hair hanging down to hide her slim face.

"What happened?" an older woman asked an officer.

"You're running a house of prostitution," he replied.

"I don't know anything about it," she said.

Police have nothing to indicate that anyone arrested is a victim of human trafficking for prostitution, Mankin said.

A middle-age man found wearing a towel at Sundance Spa said he was there because he has been having lower back problems.

"This is my first time," the heavyset customer said. "I was here in Escondido looking at cars. I came in here (the strip mall) for a soft drink and saw this place. I had a shower and sat there waiting until this (officer) came in."

He was released without charges after police took his identification.

Mankin said the crackdown came after months of police stakeouts, surveillance and monitoring Internet chat rooms because of complaints of illegal activity.

"We have had letters to the mayor, mayor pro tem, council members and the Police Department stating that Asian massage parlors are moving into Escondido 'at a rapid rate' and are 'nothing more than brothels,' " said the lieutenant, quoting from letters.

One letter addressed to the Escondido Police Department was signed "Sex Addict."

"He's seeking our assistance to put these places down to help him overcome his addiction," Mankin said, referring to the author of the letter.

Another complaint, Mankin said, came from an upset wife who read her husband's e-mail and found he had been given the name of an Escondido place "where you could get anything you want."

"She's getting a divorce," Mankin said. "She blamed us for ruining her marriage."

Contact staff writer Jo Moreland at (760) 740-3524 or jmoreland@nctimes.com.