Hearing Planned for Two Massage Parlors Suspected in Prostitution Case

Hopkins massage parlors that were last week should have a hearing on possible license penalties June 5, City Manager Mike Mornson said.

Mornson expects to send letters to the businesses this week informing them that their licenses are temporarily suspended until the June 5 hearing. Council members will then consider further sanctions, including a continued suspension or license revocation.

Police arrested masseuses at Hopkins Asian Massage and Yinyin Massage on May 1 after an anonymous letter accused the businesses of allowing prostitution to take place on their properties. During an undercover investigation, a masseuse at each business offered a plainclothes officer sexual favors, according to court documents. 

Prosecutors charged both masseuses with prostitution in a public place, a criminal charge.

The license revocation, which is not a criminal action, is taking place under Hopkins passed last year that requires licenses for most massage businesses. Under that ordinance, the city manager can temporarily suspend a massage license for 21 days.

The city created the new license in response to a separate prostitution arrest at Hopkins Asian Massage in August.

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