Massage Parlor Evicted

Auxiliary Sheriffs Deputy Joseph Almo Supervises Removal Of Spa Property

City Police Arrest 14

Massage Parlor Evicted

By Paul McEnroe

STAFF REPORTER

The U.S. Health Spa, long suspected as a massage parlor where prostitution took place, was evicted from its location at 212 W. Huron St., Saturday after reportedly being five days behind in rent.

The spa is located above the Whiffletree restaurant, 208 W. Huron, and the building is owned by Ro-An Realty.

THE EVICTION CAME on the heels of a raid by city police in which seven women from the spa were arrested and charged with accosting and soliciting. A similar raid was also carried out within an hour at the Velvet Touch Massage Parlor at 215 S. Fourth Ave. where seven girls were arrested.

Police detectives Saturday said the 14 women, all between 20 and 25 years old, are to be formally arraigned in 15th District Court Monday before Judge Pieter G.V. Thomassen.

A detective said that before the raids were carried out bond was preset at $100 after warrants were signed by Judge S. J. Elden. All the women were reported to have posted bond after appearing before Elden, according to police.

Names and addresses of the women were not available.

ACCORDING TO the police, this is the first time the spa has been raided, even though it has closed periodically, for the purpose of making arrests on prostitution related charges.

Ro-An Realty, which has no listed address but has a realty license, filed a civil suit in February claiming ‘‘$1,800 in arrears.” They also claimed in their brief that the spa’s premises were “used for prostitution and as a public resort for immoral lewd and obscene purposes.”

The manager of the Whiffletree, Robert Babcock, said the spa was late in paying rent of about $300 a month. The reported owner of the spa, John (Jack) Adams, could not be reached for comment.

BABCOCK SAID, ‘‘We have spent about $4,000 in court in the last year trying to get them out of there. The realty company couldn’t terminate the lease from a previous contract that had existed after the building was sold. This thing has been a real hassle and now it looks like it may be over. ’'

The eviction, carried out by Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies, resulted in beds, sheets and clothing being dumped on - the curb in front of the building.

By nightfall all that remained on the sidewalk was four small pieces of furniture, a cabinet and an empty cardboard box.