RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. — Randolph County law enforcement raided a massage parlor where they arrested two people.
Archdale police and the Invictus Task Force — a task force focused on cases like these are investigating the businesses for prostitution and human exploitation.
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman spoke with a nearby neighbor and human trafficking expert for more insight.
A neighbor said he was relieved to see the doors closed to the massage parlor next to his home.
Human trafficking experts said massage parlors can be hotbeds for human exploitation. This is one of the reasons that this business was being looked at in the first place.
Hakeem Morrison was born and raised in Archdale, but just recently moved into a new home.
“I'm the new owner, I live here, and my kids,” Morrison said.
It didn't take long for Morrison to realize the business next door to him was shady.
"In my two weeks, I've learned a lot,” Morrison shared.
Turns out, his suspicions were right.
Members of the Invictus Task Force and the Archdale police executed a search warrant at the business of Bixin Health Massage on North Main Street in Archdale. Reports said it was under investigation for prostitution and/or human exploitation.
As a result, two women were charged with misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution and misdemeanor prostitution.
Morrison said the late-night hours were most alarming to him about this business.
"In and out like a Cookout [restaurant] — 24 hours,” Morrison said.
It was so bad sometimes; he didn't want his kids outside.
"Sometimes my kids come out here and play, and they can't cause there's too many cars. Sometimes they pull into my driveway, and I have to let them know like, 'this is different, I stay here.’” Morrison added.
Abnormal hours like these are just one of the signs that a massage parlor might be illegal, according to the founder of the nonprofit NC Stop Human Trafficking, Pam Strickland.
She said other things to look out for are blacked-out windows or odd advertisements for the business.
She said it's best to report these things if you notice them.
"You could be saving someone from a life of human trafficking,” Strickland continued.
One of the other things Morrison noticed was that the employees inside never really went home. Strickland said this is common in businesses like these.
“It's a situation where you can't ever get away from it. You know, it's not like... you have a horrible job, and you go home, and you can kind of rest from it a little bit, you're there all the time,” Strickland added.
Both Morrison and Strickland feel empathy for those working inside.
“I really feel for the women because there's no telling what they were going through,” Morrison shared.
Strickland said in cases like these, her nonprofit pushes law enforcement agencies across the state to investigate the customers of these stores and not just the operators. She believes if more customers are arrested, businesses within illicit massage parlors will decrease.
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