City officials give little promise of action in response to illicit Asian spas

They’re houses of prostitution right in our own neighborhoods: illicit Asian spas. Yet, most of our spas aren’t even registered with the state or even properly licensed with the city. Who’s holding these places accountable?

You may remember, last week our team told you about a new ordinance passed in Aurora which have allowed them to shut down 19 spas in just over a year.

Now, we’re focusing on regulations already on the books that the city of Colorado Springs could use to make it easier for police to shut these illicit parlors down.

A word of warning: this is adult-themed and in some cases graphic.

In Colorado Springs, an adult arcade, an adult video store, and even an adult theater all qualify as a sexually-oriented business. It’s written in chapter two of our city code. Yet, all 36 active Asian spas in Colorado Springs don’t.

Despite the fact, sex is clearly depicted for sale in visual and written ads online.

So we wanted to know why.

Our team emailed the city clerk who told us spas “don’t fit within the definition of the city code for sexually-oriented businesses.”

We found that a bit strange, given the sexual nature of these businesses clearly fits in line with several categories listed in the definition online.

So we asked Mayor John Suthers: why can’t we change this? We were a bit surprised by his response.

“Only if they advertise themselves as such, a sexually-oriented business, is one that holds itself out as a sexually-oriented business,” said Suthers.

Except, that’s exactly what these spas are doing. All 36 spas clearly advertise sex.

“They’re not going to say in their advertising, this is a sex club, if it was number one it would be illegal or subject to licensing,” Suthers said.

Yet, we hear the Mayor admit himself: if these businesses advertise as such, they should be subject to licensing.

It would be another layer of accountability for these spas and make it easier for police to shut them down.

Colorado Springs Police Lieutenant Mark Comte agrees.

“We have not caught up completely with our statutes to the proliferation of spas in the Colorado Springs area,” Comte said.

Another law that could be enforced prohibits workers from living inside the business. You may remember Stephanie’s conversation with a woman believed to be human trafficked at Rose Spa on April 30th.

“Do you live here,” Stephanie asked.

“Live, no leave… no leave,” the woman answered.

“Ohh you don’t leave?” Stephanie said.

“Yes, don’t leave. Don’t leave,” she answered.

Our team also surveilled three other spas, each for three hours after closing and no workers came out.

Another sign these women are being held against their will.

So we brought these findings to city councilwoman Jill Gaebler.

“You cannot live in commercial zoning without appropriate facilities, we as a city should be looking into that,” Gaebler said.

As a post note to our first set of stories in this series, Lucky Massage Spa, located right across the street from our station on S. 8th St. appears closed. The people working there have moved out. We assume our scrutiny played a role in their choice to leave.

So the official spa count drops one — it’s now 35.