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Volume 56, No. 2
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
Chester Spa Closed Following Prostitution Raid By John Karlovec john@karlovecmedia.com Chester Township police with the assistance of Geauga County sheriff’s deputies raided and closed the Ocean Spa and massage parlor last Wednesday morning, following complaints of possible illegal sexual acts being performed there. Complaints about the spa began almost immediately after it opened earlier this year at 12661 Chillicothe Road, less than 100 feet north of the town hall, where Chesterland Safety Town is scheduled to begin Monday. Chester Township Police Capt. Jeff Sherwood said Friday the complaints concerned potential prostitution occurring at the spa. The investigation initially was turned over to the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which is made up of federal, state and local agencies investigating sex and labor trafficking cases, Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said. When it appeared the investigation was slow-walking, Chester police and the prosecutor’s office sprang into action. Flaiz said Chester police conducted a covert surveillance of the business. Thereafter, police interviewed several male customers
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The Ocean Spa, just north of Chester Township Hall, was raided June 12 following a month’s long investigation into suspected prostitution. No arrests were made nor have any charges been filed at this time. Two adult females, who did not speak English and are believed to be Chinese nationals, were located inside the business and numerous items of evidentiary value, including approximately $10,000 cash, were seized.
whose vehicles were observed in the parking lot. The men were questioned if more than massage services were given at the spa. None of the men were detained or arrested. Armed with a search warrant signed by Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica, law enforcement entered the spa at approximately 8:30 a.m. June 12. “We did execute a search warrant with the Geauga County Sher-
iff’s Office,” Sherwood said. “There were no arrests made. Two adult women were questioned as part of our investigation.” The women, who did not speak English, and are believed to be Chinese nationals, Flaiz said, adding authorities believe the women were working and living at the spa. He explained a representative from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was present with an
interpreter to help interview the women. In addition, a fellow from the Harriet Tubman Movement, which works with victims of sex trafficking, was on scene to provide support, Flaiz said. Also present was Nicholas Burling, chief assistant of the prosecutor’s office criminal division. Flaiz said business records and See Massage • Page 6
Scotts Named Independence Day Parade Marshals Staff Report West Geauga Kiwanis Club’s theme this year’s Independence Day Parade is “Recognizing Volunteers in our Community” and longtime members Les and Laura Scott have been named parade marshals. The Scotts have lived in Chester Township since 1982, raising their two sons who both attended West Geauga Schools. Les is a business owner and artistic director at his salon in Chagrin Falls where he has been working since the 1980s. Laura works part time as a dental hygienist at Center for Dental Health in Willowick. The couple’s voluntarism began with their involvement in Cub Scouts and then Chesterland Boy
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Les and Laura Scott
Scout Troop 195 with their sons. Les said if it wasn’t for Laura telling him to get busy and involved, he would not be the person he became and certainly would not have had as much fun and as many friendships. Laura volunteered on Alpine Valley ski patrol for 15 years and teaches CPR these days. She helps provide dental care to underserved
populations at health fairs and works at Camp Sue Osborne a few weeks a year. It was a natural transition for Les from Scouts to Kiwanis Club, where he helps with meals on wheels and has handled club publicity for the past eight years. He was club president in 2012 and served on the board for many years. He serves currently as lieutenant governor for Ohio District 22 Kiwanis which oversees nine clubs in Northeast Ohio. One thing Les is particularly proud of was organizing 5k/10k runs for four years and raising $14,000 for Kiwanis International’s “Eliminate Project.” Neonatal Tetanus was a $100 million goal for Kiwanis International to save the lives of mothers and babies in hard to reach countries.
“We need to have W. G. Kiwanis Club help with this project” Les said. When Kiwanis was forced to shut down due to the COVID pandemic, Les started the “No Pancakes Golf Outings” for a few years. He maintains community fundraisers like golf outings, clam bakes, pancake breakfasts, berry festivals, fish fries, Christmas tree sales and the like can always use more people to step up and get involved to make their community and world a better place. Independence Day parade starts at St. Anselm Church at 11 a.m. and proceeds south on state Route 306 to West Geauga High School. Participants should gather at the church parking lot beginning at 9 a.m., with judging at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.wgkiwanis.org.
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