Citizen complaints lead to prostitution arrest, closure of 2 Lufkin massage parlors

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - Lufkin Police Department headed up a massage parlor prostitution sting Thursday that ended with at least one arrest. According to Lufkin PIO Jessica Pebsworth, Lufkin PD was joined by Texas DPS and both Angelina County and Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Offices in investigating two massage parlors that citizens had complained about. Those massage businesses were Blue Water Spa at 709 Atkinson Drive, Suite C, and Lufkin Massage, at 505 S. Timberland Drive. Detectives launched an investigation and shuttered both of the businesses citing ordinance violations, Pebsworth said. They also found that the employees were living inside Lufkin Massage. One woman was arrested for prostitution. Her name was not released. “We will be having conversations with the property owners to make sure they’re fully aware of how sinister these places are and the tragic effects they have on people who are trafficked,” Asst. City Manager Gerald Williamson said. “We in Lufkin watch for this type of activity and we never intend to allow it in our community. We will take strong enforcement action any time we see it.” Due to the implication of sex trafficking, representatives from local advocacy groups Unbound Now and Family Crisis Center of East Texas joined the sting to provide services to possible sex trafficking victims.