The Tontitown Police Department said it is collaborating with other agencies in the region following Friday's raid at a massage parlor on Henri de Tonti Boulevard. After looking over the evidence, police said they believe there are additional establishments similar to the one raided on Friday."We found some direct correspondence between some of the other locations. And through surveillance, we have watched people that we have identified as, quote unquote, employees of the establishment go directly from our location to another location," said Det. Keith Lindley with Tontitown police.During Friday's operation, a 61-year-old woman was arrested and charged with promoting prostitution in the second degree. Police said they anticipate more arrests."We have two people that are very solidly identified that we know have culpability in this. And it's our hope that we make contact with those two people and afford them the opportunity to have a conversation with us to see if our suspicions are correct or not," Lindley said.Currently, authorities believe that sex trafficking could be a factor in the ongoing investigation."Sadly, I do. I do have a reason to believe that there's the possibility of that. Can I definitively say that I can't? And the reason that I can say that I have reason to believe that it's a possibility is because it's so common, it's so incredibly commonplace that sex workers in the United States, not just in Tontitown, Arkansas, are victims of human trafficking," Lindley said.The woman arrested is being held at the Washington County Detention Center. Her bond was set at $10,000.
SPRINGDALE, Ark. —
The Tontitown Police Department said it is collaborating with other agencies in the region following Friday's raid at a massage parlor on Henri de Tonti Boulevard. After looking over the evidence, police said they believe there are additional establishments similar to the one raided on Friday.
"We found some direct correspondence between some of the other locations. And through surveillance, we have watched people that we have identified as, quote unquote, employees of the establishment go directly from our location to another location," said Det. Keith Lindley with Tontitown police.
During Friday's operation, a 61-year-old woman was arrested and charged with promoting prostitution in the second degree. Police said they anticipate more arrests.
"We have two people that are very solidly identified that we know have culpability in this. And it's our hope that we make contact with those two people and afford them the opportunity to have a conversation with us to see if our suspicions are correct or not," Lindley said.
Currently, authorities believe that sex trafficking could be a factor in the ongoing investigation.
"Sadly, I do. I do have a reason to believe that there's the possibility of that. Can I definitively say that I can't? And the reason that I can say that I have reason to believe that it's a possibility is because it's so common, it's so incredibly commonplace that sex workers in the United States, not just in Tontitown, Arkansas, are victims of human trafficking," Lindley said.
The woman arrested is being held at the Washington County Detention Center. Her bond was set at $10,000.
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