A man and two women working in a massage parlor near University Medical Center were arrested yesterday in what police say may lead to a prostitution bust.
John Lavoie, 48, who was operating Angel's Heaven Relaxation Spa, 1740 E. Lester St., was arrested for operating a massage parlor without a license, employing unlicensed massage therapists and for driving on a suspended license.
Two women who worked at the spa were also arrested. One was arrested for committing acts of prostitution and being an unlicensed massage therapist. The other was arrested for being an unlicensed massage therapist.
Sergeant Carlos Valdez, Tucson Police Department spokesman, said the investigation is ongoing and police may uncover evidence leading to a prostitution charge for Lavoie.
Valdez said police begin investigating the spa in late June after several residents from the North Campbell Avenue and East Lester Street area began reporting suspicious activity involving the spa.
Valdez said police worked with several other agencies including the Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General's Office to get three search warrants that were all served today.
Two of the search warrants were served within Tucson, one at the spa and another at a connecting residence.
Valdez said the third warrant was served by the Pima County Sheriffs office to an office in Winstel, outside of Tucson.
Valdez said when the warrant was served to the spa, three females and six males were detained for questioning. He said while two of the women were arrested, everyone else was released after interviews.
The Angel's Heaven Relaxation Spa Web site has profiles of the "angels." Each angel has a name like "passion angel" or "alluring angel." The profiles contain a detailed physical description of each angel along with a description of her "beauty and personality."
Attempts to contact Angel's Heaven Relaxation Spa were unsuccessful. A call placed to the spa around 7 p.m. was answered by police who said there were no spa employees in the building.
Valdez said Lavoie, along with the two women, were booked into Pima County Jail.